Accra: Ghana has selected the United States and China as vendors for its first nuclear power plants, though no formal contract has been signed. The U.S.-based NuScale Power and Regnum Technology Group, in partnership with Japanese firms, will construct Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), while China National Nuclear Corporation will build a Large Reactor (LR). This was disclosed by Dr. Stephen Yamoah, Executive Director of Nuclear Power Ghana, to the Ghana News Agency on the sidelines of a media engagement in Accra Wednesday.
According to Ghana News Agency, the LR will have a capacity of 1,200 megawatts, while the SMRs will comprise 12 modules, each generating 77 megawatts, totaling 924 megawatts. Dr. Yamoah stated that the LR would follow a Build, Operate, and Transfer (BOT) financial model with local equity participation, and the SMRs would be financed through Public-Private Partnerships (PPP). Ghana has signed a framework agreement with the vendors, and experts are gathering environmental and oceanic data to determine the plant's location.
Mr. Archibold Buah-Kwofi, Acting Director of the Nuclear Power Institute, emphasized the need for stable and affordable electricity for national development, noting that Ghana's energy mix relied heavily on fossil fuels and hydro, with renewables contributing just one percent. He highlighted the importance of fast-tracking the adoption of nuclear power to secure Ghana's energy future, along with robust regulatory frameworks and skilled manpower.
The government plans to integrate one gigawatt of nuclear power into the grid by 2034. This initiative aims to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, mitigate climate change, and enhance energy security. The nuclear plant is anticipated to support industrialization, compensate for declining hydro sources, lower tariffs for industries, enable desalination, and create jobs.
The vendor selection was a result of a thorough process that began with 16 responses to the government's call. A technical team, guided by the Energy Ministry, shortlisted five before choosing the final two. Ghana's nuclear ambition, which was disrupted by a coup in the 1960s, was revived in 2006 with support from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). It is part of a broader trend among several African nations pursuing nuclear energy to tackle power challenges and drive economic growth.
