Management of Nuclear Power Ghana (NPG), the body set up by an act of Parliament to actualize the vision of Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah for Ghana’s first land-based Nuclear Power Plant, has rejected proposals for the country to adopt a floating plant.
According to Director of NPG, Dr Stephen Yamoah, the proposal is not in the interest of Ghana since a lot of progress has been made over the years with major stakeholders for the country to have its nuclear project on land.
He explained that the introduction of floating nuclear power plants into the energy mix at this crucial moment could derail Ghana’s carefully structured agenda and negatively impact its internationally.
Speaking to journalists at the end of a two-day capacity building for media practitioners on activities of Nuclear Power Ghana in Accra, Dr Yamoah urged the need for the country not to dilute its target, saying “nuclear is not a quick fix or stop gap.”
“If we dilute our focus, the international community will begin to see Ghana as an unserious country that doesn’t know what it wants,” he warned.
Dr Yamoah further stated that the Floating Nuclear Power Plant (FNPP) technology does not align with Ghana’s long-term nuclear development strategy, in accordance with the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) requirement.
He emphasized the need for Ghana to look at nuclear as a base for the generation of electricity for industry, job creation and a catalyst to drive the country’s industrialization agenda.
“The nuclear agenda is not just about generating electricity. It’s about building industry, creating jobs, and adding value to our natural resources,” he emphasized.
Background
Speaking at the World Atomic Week celebration in Moscow, Russia recently, Deputy Director in charge of Alternative and Nuclear Energy at the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition, Dr Robert Sogbadji, disclosed that Russia had expressed interest in deploying three floating power units of 100MW each in Ghana.
He explained at the forum that floating nuclear plants offer flexibility, mobility, and scalability, making them attractive for short-term power needs.
According to him, introducing floating nuclear plants could help bridge Ghana’s energy supply gap more quickly than traditional land-based reactors.
However, Nuclear Power Ghana believes the country has gone far with the nuclear power agenda, having completed the first and second phases with extensive feasibility studies, vendor evaluations, and technology assessments done.
At all these stages, Dr Yamoah said the subject of floating reactors as an option never came up.
“No vendor ever proposed floating technology…. This idea appears to be a market-driven attempt to sell electricity at unknown costs, not a serious national project,” Dr Yamoah observed.
Dr Yamoah also urged the need for Ghana to guard against deploying nuclear energy as a short-term solution.
“No country uses nuclear energy to solve short-term power problems… it must be developed as a long-term, reliable base-load power source that drives industrialization and supports energy security,” he stated.
The NPG Director said the country is better off without a land-based nuclear power plant than opting for a floating plant on water.
“Ghana without a nuclear power plant is much better than Ghana with a floating nuclear power plant,” Dr Yamoah said.
By: Chriatian Kpesese
