Faith Nyasuguta
Ghana has taken a major step towards building its first nuclear power plant, signing an agreement with a U.S. developer to deploy NuScale Power’s small modular reactor (SMR) technology.
The deal, finalized between Nuclear Power Ghana and Regnum Technology Group at the U.S.-Africa Nuclear Energy Summit in Nairobi, involves the deployment of a NuScale VOYGR-12 SMR.
SMRs are smaller and more flexible than traditional nuclear reactors, designed to be factory-built and shipped to the site for faster and easier construction.
While some remain skeptical about the commercial viability of SMRs, Ghana sees nuclear power as a way to meet its industrial goals and combat climate change.
Aleshia Duncan, Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Cooperation at the U.S. Department of Energy, stated, “Ghana and many other African countries are pursuing nuclear energy to achieve their economic development, energy security, and decarbonization goals.” She emphasized the importance of the U.S. maintaining a strong partnership to support the deployment of nuclear energy across Africa.
The U.S. government under President Joe Biden has prioritized promoting clean energy technologies to developing countries as part of its strategy to fight climate change.
Nuclear energy is seen as a crucial tool in this effort, providing a reliable source of power with minimal emissions. However, nuclear power does come with its own set of challenges, particularly the production of long-lasting nuclear waste.
NuScale is currently the only company licensed to build a U.S. SMR, but it recently canceled its sole U.S. project due to rising costs. This agreement with Ghana could be a crucial step for NuScale in proving the viability of its technology on an international scale.
Ghana’s nuclear ambitions have attracted interest from several global players. Besides the U.S., other contenders for the contract included France’s EDF, China National Nuclear Corporation, South Korea’s Kepco and its subsidiary Korea Hydro Nuclear Power Corporation, and Russia’s ROSATOM, according to an official from Ghana’s energy ministry in May.
The decade-long project aims to help Ghana diversify its energy sources, meet growing electricity demand, and transition to cleaner energy. As the country moves forward with its nuclear power plans, it remains to be seen how this pioneering effort will reshape its energy landscape and influence the wider African push for nuclear energy.
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