By
Christabel Addo, GNA
Accra, Oct. 1, GNA –
Mr William Owuraku Aidoo, the Deputy Minister of Environment, Science,
Technology and Innovation, has said
Ghana has the required technology to embark upon the establishment of a
Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) to generate electricity.
He said the
country’s vision for the peaceful application of nuclear technology in various
fields including power generation, dated back to the 1963 when the reactor
project was launched by Ghana’s first President Osagyfo Dr Kwame Nkrumah.
Unfortunately, the
project was abandoned in 1966 and until a series of power crisis and high cost
of electricity tariffs rekindled the discussion, saying nuclear plant was best
suited to be operated as a base load generation for the country, he said.
He said there are
currently Ghanaian scientists who were highly revered in the global arena, and
these professionals through their contributions have projected the country’s
image in the international domain.
Mr Aidoo, was
speaking at the maiden nuclear media training workshop organized by the Nuclear
Power Ghana (NPG) in Accra on Monday, to sensitise selected journalists on
matters relating to Ghana’s Nuclear Power programme, so they could best
articulate the issues, and eliminate the myths and misinformation regarding
nuclear power.
The workshop
featured presentations on the fundamentals of nuclear power, Ghana’s journey,
the organisations responsible for the programme development, and how the
country plan to address the safety and waste concerns.
He said nuclear
power was the solution to greater industrialization as it guaranteed low
operating cost, had zero greenhouse emissions, stable price over a long period
and that the plant could operate at full power for very long periods.
The Deputy Minister
said the nation has made tremendous strides since its decision to embark upon a
Nuclear Power Programme, and had presently worked hard to satisfy all the 19
key infrastructure requirements of the International Atomic Energy Agency
(IAEA), for establishing a Nuclear Power Plant, and would soon present its
report to Parliament to endorse the country’s commitment.
He said key bodies
such as the Ghana Nuclear Power Programme Organisation (GNPPO), the Nuclear
Regulatory Authority (NRA), and the Nuclear Power Ghana (NPG) have been
established to respectively, oversee to the implementation, regulation, and
safety of the country’s nuclear power plant.
Mr Aidoo applauded
the country’s efforts and successes, saying the development of nuclear power
involved three phases and Ghana was at the tail end of currently the first
Phase, where government is expected to make a decision to usher in the second
phase.
He said the second
phase would then culminate in the invitation of bids or negotiation of
contracts for the Nuclear Power Plant, while the third phase involved
construction, and would conclude with the commissioning and operation of
Ghana’s first nuclear power plant.
He applauded the
Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) for the initiative role in the nuclear
power programme, and pledged the full support of the Ministry.
Mr Fred Oware, the
Board Chair of the Nuclear Power Ghana, said it is very important that the
media understood the issues, so that they could provide accurate information
and education to the public.
The NPG, he said,
has since July 2019 been a fully registered Limited Liability Company, under
the sponsorship of the Volta River Authority, Bui Power Authority and the GAEC,
and that it has been established to serve as the Owner and Operator of Ghana’s
future Nuclear Power Plant.
Engineer Theophilus
Nii Okai, the Executive Director, Nuclear Power Ghana, also spoke on the role
of the Owner and Operator and the IAEA Milestones, saying the fundamental
nuclear safety objective included ensuring the protection of people and the
environment from harmful radiation.
He said the project
management organization, would oversee the construction and subsequent
commissioning of the Nuclear Power Plant, and was responsible for site selection,
negotiations with vendor, training of personnel to safely run and operate the
plant, and work closely with the IAEA to ensure the steady progress of the
programme.
Dr Emmanuel Ampomah,
the Acting Director, Nuclear Installations Directorate, GAEC, said the NRA, is
working closely with the IAEA to ensure that in the development of power,
safety, security and safeguards were not compromised adding that the Ghana is a
signatory to several international conventions that seeks to ensure the
peaceful application.
Dr Stephen Yamoah,
the Acting Director, Nuclear Power Ghana, said the amount of waste generated by
nuclear power was very small compared to thermal electricity generation
technologies and that a satisfactory means of disposal has been developed and
was being implemented across the world.
GNA
