ASEC Warns Ghana Over Nuclear Power Preparedness

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Ghana’s ambition to establish a 2,000-megawatt nuclear power plant must be matched by stronger maintenance practices, institutional discipline and investment in existing energy infrastructure, the Africa Sustainable Energy Centre (ASEC) has warned.

The Centre has welcomed the proposed nuclear cooperation between Ghana and Russia, describing it as an opportunity to diversify the country’s electricity generation mix and support industrial development.

However, it cautions that acquiring nuclear technology without strengthening the systems responsible for operating and maintaining critical infrastructure could expose the country to significant operational and safety challenges.

In a statement issued on November 2, 2026, ASEC argued that Ghana must address weaknesses in preventive maintenance and asset management across its generation facilities, transmission networks, substations, distribution infrastructure and gas processing installations.

The Centre’s concern is that the country’s nuclear ambitions should not advance independently of the operational standards governing the rest of the energy sector.

“We cannot aspire to operate a world-class nuclear power facility while maintaining a third-class maintenance culture.”

The warning shifts attention from the proposed plant’s generation capacity to the institutional and technical readiness required to operate it safely and reliably.

Nuclear power facilities require rigorous maintenance systems, specialised technical expertise, strict safety procedures and consistent regulatory oversight.

These standards cannot be introduced only when a nuclear plant becomes operational; they must be embedded across the energy sector.

ASEC is therefore urging Ghana to move away from reactive maintenance, where equipment is repaired after failure, towards preventive and predictive maintenance supported by regular inspections, condition monitoring and reliable maintenance budgets.

The Centre identifies skilled technical personnel, adequate spare-parts management and stronger institutional accountability as essential components of this transition.

These recommendations have implications beyond nuclear power. Generation plants, transmission lines and substations must remain operational if additional electricity capacity is to translate into reliable supply for households and businesses.

A nuclear facility would place further demands on the country’s electricity infrastructure, particularly the transmission network required to evacuate and distribute its output.

ASEC consequently wants Government to strengthen grid infrastructure alongside preparations for the proposed plant.

The broader argument is that Ghana cannot treat nuclear development as an isolated construction project. Its success will depend on the reliability of the systems and institutions supporting the entire electricity value chain.

ASEC has also cautioned against allowing the nuclear programme to weaken investment in renewable energy.

The Centre considers nuclear generation a potential source of dependable, low-carbon electricity, but argues that it should complement rather than displace solar, wind, hydropower and battery energy storage.

It has called for an integrated energy diversification roadmap that balances investment in nuclear generation with accelerated development of renewable energy projects.

The Centre’s position is particularly relevant as Ghana seeks to diversify its electricity mix while meeting growing demand from households, businesses and industry.

Solar energy, including utility-scale and distributed systems, remains an important part of the country’s options. Battery storage could also support the integration of variable renewable generation and improve the flexibility of the electricity system.

ASEC is therefore advocating a broader approach to energy planning rather than allowing the proposed nuclear plant to dominate the country’s long-term investment priorities.

The proposed 2,000MW facility will also require a strong regulatory and financial framework.

ASEC wants Ghana to ensure independent nuclear regulation, compliance with International Atomic Energy Agency standards, comprehensive emergency preparedness and clear arrangements for radioactive waste management.

These responsibilities are central to the safe operation of nuclear facilities and must be considered throughout the project’s lifecycle.

Financing and procurement transparency are equally important. The Centre has called for an assessment of the project’s full long-term costs, alongside investments in the transmission infrastructure needed to accommodate the additional generation capacity.

The financial implications extend beyond construction. Nuclear facilities require sustained spending on maintenance, specialist personnel, safety systems, fuel management and eventual decommissioning.

For Ghana, this means that the commercial and financial arrangements must account for long-term obligations rather than focus only on the initial cost of building the plant.

ASEC also sees nuclear development as an opportunity to strengthen Ghana’s domestic technical and industrial capabilities.

It wants universities, research institutions and engineering companies to participate meaningfully in the programme, with particular emphasis on technology transfer and specialised skills development.

The objective is to ensure that Ghanaian professionals and institutions can contribute to the construction, operation, maintenance and regulation of nuclear infrastructure.

Without deliberate capacity-building arrangements, the country could remain heavily dependent on foreign expertise throughout the facility’s operational life.

Local participation, therefore, should extend beyond employment opportunities during construction to include research, engineering, technical services and long-term operational responsibilities.

ASEC believes the nuclear programme should advance national economic interests while strengthening the country’s ability to manage complex energy infrastructure.

The Centre’s broader message is that Ghana’s nuclear ambition must be supported by institutional readiness and a balanced energy strategy.

It summarised this principle in its statement:

“Ambition must be matched by preparedness, investment by accountability, and technological advancement by institutional discipline.”

The warning comes as Ghana seeks to revive its long-standing nuclear power ambitions through cooperation with Russia.

While the proposed 2,000MW facility could expand the country’s generation options, the agreement to cooperate should not be confused with a completed investment, secured financing or the commencement of construction.

Significant work remains in areas such as financing, technology selection, regulatory preparation, infrastructure development and human-capacity building.

For ASEC, the immediate priority is to ensure that the country strengthens its existing energy infrastructure while preparing for the technical and safety requirements of nuclear generation.

The Centre supports the nuclear ambition but insists that renewable energy development, maintenance standards, safety and national economic interests must remain central to the process.

Ultimately, Ghana’s ability to operate a nuclear power plant will depend not only on the technology it acquires, but also on the quality of its institutions, the competence of its workforce and its commitment to maintaining critical infrastructure.

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