Africa on track to achieving nuclear power

Last week, I had the privilege to attend the 63rd IAEA General Conference in Vienna during which I spoke with several African government officials to gain a better understanding on their country’s respective nuclear energy programmes. It was fascinating and encouraging to learn that many of the African countries have identified nuclear energy has a key potential to address their energy demands and a potential fast-track to electrification. They have also started take concrete steps to implementing a safe, secure and successful nuclear energy programme.

Ghana moving in the right direction

Among the sub-saharan African countries, Ghana is viewed by many as having taken the proper steps towards having a nuclear power programme. I had the chance to speak with Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, who is the Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Ghana.

The Government of Ghana has provided financial support to the Ghana Nuclear Power Programme Organisation (GNPPO) to enable it to complete its IAEA Phase 1 work. Phase 1 involves considerations before a decision to launch a nuclear power programme is taken; a Pre-Feasibility Study will help a country establish a strong national position and answer the key question: why nuclear?

GNPPO anticipates to submit to the Government a comprehensive report on the Phase 1 programme by end of November 2019. In preparation for Phase 2, Nuclear Power Ghana (a nuclear utility company) has been established by the Government.

Phase 2 will involve preparatory work for the contracting and construction of a nuclear power plant after a policy decision has been taken; in this phase, key organizations as well as the legal and regulatory frameworks are established.

Uganda aims to create an enabling environment for nuclear power

Uganda continues to assess all the available energy resources to ensure sustainable exploitation of these resources. Towards this end, the government of Uganda with the IAEA technical support conducted pre-feasibility studies for the nuclear power programme which indicated that nuclear energy will have a role to play in the electricity generation mix. In this regard government is working towards creating an enabling environment for nuclear power development in Uganda which includes among others the emplacement of a nuclear energy policy and the comprehensive nuclear legislation. To assess progress on key milestones for nuclear infrastructure development, Uganda has invited the IAEA to conduct an Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review (INIR) mission next year 2020. 

INIR is a holistic peer review to assist IAEA Member States in assessing the status of their national infrastructure for the introduction of nuclear power. The review covers the comprehensive infrastructure required for developing a safe, secure and sustainable nuclear power programme.

Ethiopia develops road-map for nuclear power

Ethiopia is one of the fastest growing economies in Africa and is poised to becoming middle-income economy by 2025. The government has embarked on a new economic reform agenda of further widening the participation of the private sector in any economic sectors, liberalizing some sectors which have ever been under full government monopoly.

Over the last few months Ethiopia has been seriously working on a bilateral cooperation with Russia to establish a Centre of Nuclear Science and Technology for production of radioisotopes and for human resource capacity building. This cooperation with Russia also includes a road-map for establishing a nuclear power plant which is in-line with Ethiopia’s policy on energy mix. Under a 2015-2020 development plan, Ethiopia wants to raise power generation to more than 17,000 megawatts (MW) from current capacity of just over 4,200 MW.

Zambia looks for partners for nuclear power programme

Zambia plans to commission the Centre for Nuclear Science and Technology within the next five years and commission the first two units of nuclear power plant by 2040. The centre will be a milestone for Zambia’s mission to diversifying the energy sector.

While Zambia might be blessed with various natural and mineral resources, the devastating effects of drought spurred by climate change, has diminished economic growth prospects hence the need to adopt nuclear science to avert the effects. President Edgar Lungu had on 18 September 2015 and 16 September 2016 pronounced Zambia’s desire to pursue nuclear energy as part of the diversified sustainable energy mix to power Zambia’s economy. 

While Zambia has entered into a bilateral cooperation arrangement with Russia in 2018 for the implementation of a nuclear power programme, the country is open to discussions with other partners for assistance and technical support to accelerate the implementation of a nuclear power programme in Zambia.

Kenya identifies nuclear energy as a priority - Hosts regional African nuclear meeting

Energy is a key enabler in the implementation of Kenya’s development plan. In March 2019, the Energy Act 2019 was signed, which among other provisions, provides for nuclear energy as one of the sources of generation of affordable, reliable and clean electricity in the country to meet future electricity demand. 

Kenya has considered nuclear energy as a potential priority in the long-term electricity generation to be included in the energy mix taking into account that nuclear power is low carbon energy source that contributes to the mitigation of the impact of climate change.

Kenya has taken significant steps in improving the existing legal and regulatory framework for the peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology. In this context, the Nuclear Regulatory Bill is undergoing the final legislative process towards enactment.

Kenya's Nuclear Power & Energy Agency will host the Africa Nuclear Business Platform this 15-16 October 2019 at the M?venpick Hotel Nairobi, Kenya. Supported also by African Commission on Nuclear Energy (AFCONE) and The International Framework for Nuclear Energy Cooperation (IFNEC), this important regional meeting will bring together all the key African nuclear stakeholders to discuss issues across the African nuclear supply chain and identify areas of strategic business opportunities.

Nuclear Power and Energy Agency (Kenya) is delighted to be the Host Organisation for this international industry gathering which will together a broad spectrum of stakeholders including emerging NPP countries in Africa, government, regulators, technology vendors, construction companies, law firms and financial firms. We look forward to welcoming all of you to Nairobi, Kenya for a successful conference!

- Eng. Collins Juma, Chief Executive Officer, Nuclear Power and Energy Agency (Kenya)

For more information on the meeting, email [email protected]