BIG STORY
Ghana inks deal to build first small-scale nuclear reactor
Ghana has signed an agreement with a U.S. developer to advance the country’s first nuclear power plant using NuScale Power’s (SMR.N) technology, according to the U.S. State Department.
The agreement between Nuclear Power Ghana and Regnum Technology Group was finalized at the U.S.-Africa nuclear energy summit in Nairobi and involves deploying a NuScale VOYGR-12 small modular reactor (SMR), according to Reuters.
Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) are a type of nuclear reactor that is smaller in size and power output compared to traditional nuclear reactors. They are designed to be built in factories and then shipped to the site where they will be operated, allowing for easier and faster construction. However, concerns remain about whether SMRs will become commercially widespread.
Ghana believes nuclear power can help it achieve its industrial ambitions while fighting climate change.
According to Aleshia Duncan, deputy assistant secretary for international cooperation at the U.S. Department of Energy, “Ghana and many other African countries are pursuing nuclear energy to achieve their economic development, energy security, and decarbonization goals,”
“It’s imperative that the United States remain a strong and engaged partner, offering technical expertise and resources to ensure the successful deployment of nuclear energy across the continent.”
The U.S. is keen on promoting clean energy technologies, especially to developing nations, as part of its broader strategy. President Joe Biden’s administration sees nuclear energy as a crucial tool in the battle against climate change, as it generates power with virtually no emissions.
Nuclear power, despite its benefits, produces long-lasting nuclear waste. NuScale is currently the only company licensed to build a U.S. Small Modular Reactor (SMR), but last year it cancelled its sole U.S. project due to escalating costs.
Other major players vying for the contract to build Ghana’s nuclear plant included France’s EDF and the China National Nuclear Corporation, according to an energy ministry official in May. South Korea’s Kepco, alongside its subsidiary Korea Hydro Nuclear Power Corporation, as well as Russia’s ROSATOM, were also in the race for the decade-long project.