Story by: Mabel Adorkor Annang
Ghana has officially selected China National Nuclear Corporation, CNNC and U.S. based NuScale Regnum Technology as vendors to support the country’s nuclear energy ambitions.
The move has been met with opposition from some African Civil Society Organizations, CSOs, expressing concerns about the inherent risks and potential consequences associated with nuclear power plant operation, citing past accidents in other countries.
The adoption of Nuclear Power to Ghana’s generation mix comes as part of Ghana’s strategy to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, with nuclear energy expected to provide a stable and reliable source of power.
The selection of a Vendor marks a significant milestone in Phase Two of Ghana’s Nuclear Power Programme, aimed at integrating nuclear energy into the national electricity mix.
However, the decision sparked criticism from civil society organizations (CSOs) comprising 360 Human Rights, SYND Ghana, Centre for Justice, Governance and Environmental Action, Earthlife Africa, SAFCEI, The Young African Activist Network, and the Russian Environmental Group Ecodefense argue that Africa does not need nuclear energy as it is neither safe, affordable, nor climate-smart.
Despite these concerns, several African nations such as Egypt, Rwanda, Sudan, Kenya, Nigeria, Niger, and Burkina Faso are also exploring nuclear energy as a means of ensuring accessible, reliable, and cost-effective electricity supply.
Deputy Director of Power, Renewable, and Nuclear Energy at the Ministry of Energy, Dr. Robert Sogbadji, argued that Ghana’s nuclear power programme is designed with the highest safety standards under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA and poses no risk to the population.
He further highlighted that modern nuclear technology includes advanced safety features capable of detecting and recalibrating risks in real-time.
“Nuclear has come a long way since the 1960s when it was conventionally available. And just like any other new technology, it suffered a bad childbirth. The first time it was utilized or its energy was harnessed was in the world war and now it’s converted into a commercial power plant and started using it just like the generation one, generation two and those generation plants have their issues. They didn’t have what they call a containment building. So, when the Chernobyl happened, those pylons and all those things went up. But fast forward to this modern time when we are in generation three plus, the nuclear power plants that we have now have what we call passive safety inherent features which means that without human intervention, they can shut down by themselves safely without any human intervention. Anything which is going wrong and the system senses danger, everything shuts down so it is not like the old first-generation nuclear power plant”. Dr. Sogbadji explained.
Dr. Robert Sogbadji, defended the government’s decision, stating that while nuclear power plants require significant initial investment, their costs are comparable to hydroelectric plants. He emphasized that Ghana has exhausted its hydro resources, making nuclear a necessary addition to diversify the country’s energy mix.
“The initial cost is where to find the money to build the power plant but once built, the power generation is cheap because the nuclear fuel is changed over an eighteen months cycle, that is one and a half year and if you have a power plant that operates over such a long time before you do a fuel change for about three to four weeks and then it comes on again. That guarantees power supply and that will give you the vision to also become the next exporter of electricity to our neighbours, reducing energy poverty in the region”. He intimated.
Dr. Sogbadji, also cited financial flexibility and political considerations as key factors in Ghana’s selection of nuclear technology vendors. He explained that while several countries were shortlisted, the United States and China were better options due to their financing models.
These models, he noted, facilitate nuclear integration without placing a heavy financial burden on Ghana’s economy.
As Ghana progresses with its nuclear energy plans, the debate over its safety and necessity is expected to continue, with government advocating for its benefits while CSOs caution against potential risks.
