Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for International Security and Nonproliferation, Ann Ganzer, joins industry and government representatives at the MOU signing ceremony (May 28, 2024)
Accra, Ghana – US Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for International Security and Non-Proliferation Ann Ganzer announced new civilian nuclear cooperation to further support Ghana’s safe and secure use of nuclear energy, including establishing Ghana as a regional hub for small modular reactor (SMR). The announcements were made at the Africa Nuclear Business Platform meeting in Accra, Ghana on 28 May.
SMRs can provide reliable 24/7 power, complement other clean energy sources, have flexible placement requirements, and use a small land area. US SMRs incorporate advanced safety features, including designs to withstand extreme weather and seismic events, and can be customized to fit the specific needs of a country’s power grid, with the ability to scale as needed. Importantly, SMRs can play a critical role in decarbonising non-electricity sectors such as industry and transport.
Along with US Chargé d’Affaires Rolf Olson, PDAS Ganzer attended the signing of key arrangements facilitated by the US Infrastructure Program. Ghana:
- Memorandum of Cooperation and Contractual Arrangements for the Provision of the NuScale Energy Exploration Center (E2) and related services to EEAE. The documents, signed by GAEC and ISTC and by GAEC, ISTC and NuScale respectively, advance Ghana’s technical readiness for SMR technology. The development of a NuScale E2 Center in Ghana—the first for the African continent—will be a key tool in preparing the workforce for SMR deployment in Ghana and beyond.
- The E2 Center, a NuScale Power SMR control room simulator funded by the FIRST Program, will provide a hands-on training facility to develop and train the next generation of nuclear power operators and engineers.
- It will also establish Ghana as a regional education and training hub for the next stage of safe and secure civilian nuclear deployments in Africa, in line with the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) Milestone Approach and non-proliferation standards.
- Memorandum of Cooperation for Regional Welding Certification Program between the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) and the International Science and Technology Center (ISTC), which will provide basic training and a unique skill set to enable Ghanaian technicians to qualify for jobs in the nuclear sector energy. Funded by the FIRST Program, this certification program will help establish Ghana as part of a secure SMR supply chain in the region.
In conjunction with these major developments, the Government of Ghana represented by Nuclear Power Ghana is working on a partnership agreement with project developer Regnum Technology Group LLC to develop an industrial enclave using a NuScale SMR nuclear power plant as its primary power source. The US government strongly supports the development of NuScale’s technology through Regnum Technology Group as a project developer in Ghana and looks forward to seeing this agreement concluded.
The United States is also in negotiations with Ghana for a peaceful nuclear cooperation agreement (or 123 agreement) and looks forward to concluding negotiations to enable closer cooperation in this important area.
Today’s announcements build on a commitment by the US, Japan and Ghana announced at the IAEA Department of Nuclear Energy in 2022 to work together to support Ghana’s bid to be Africa’s first SMR operator and create jobs through workforce development to support future SMR supply chain needs. The United States is committed to enabling the use of innovative clean energy technologies to improve global access to zero emissions, reliable 24/7 power, and support sustainability, energy security, and climate goals.
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