Ghana has taken a significant step towards diversifying its energy mix by signing an agreement with a US developer to construct a nuclear reactor. Nuclear Power Ghana and Regnum Technology Group will deploy a NuScale VOYGR-12 small modular reactor (SMR), a cutting-edge technology that offers a cleaner and more efficient source of energy.
The agreement, signed at the US-Africa nuclear energy summit in Nairobi, marks a major milestone in Ghana’s journey towards nuclear power. The US aims to promote clean energy technologies, including nuclear energy, to developing nations as part of its efforts to combat climate change.
NuScale Power’s SMR technology is revolutionary, offering a smaller, factory-manufactured design that reduces costs and environmental impact. However, uncertainties surround the widespread commercial viability of SMRs.
Ghana’s energy ministry had considered other contenders, including EDF from France, China National Nuclear Corporation, South Korea’s Kepco, and Russia’s ROSATOM, before selecting NuScale Power’s technology.
This partnership is expected to cover the next decade, with the US promoting nuclear energy as a crucial component in the fight against climate change. However, concerns about long-lasting nuclear waste remain.
