Ghana has signed an agreement with a U.S. developer to develop the country’s first nuclear power plant using NuScale Power ( SMR.N ) technology, according to the U.S. State Department.
The agreement between Nuclear Power Ghana and Regnum Technology Group was finalized at the US-Africa Nuclear Power Summit in Nairobi and involves the development of a NuScale VOYGR-12 Small Modular Reactor (SMR), according to Reuters.
Small modular reactors (SMRs) are a type of nuclear reactor that is smaller in size and power output compared to traditional nuclear reactors. They are designed to be manufactured in factories and then shipped to the site where they will operate, allowing for easier and faster construction. However, concerns remain about whether SMRs will become commercially widespread.
Ghana believes nuclear power can help it achieve its industrial ambitions while combating climate change.
According to Aleshia Duncan, deputy assistant secretary for international cooperation at the US Department of Energy, “Ghana and many other African countries are pursuing nuclear power to achieve their goals of economic growth, energy security and decarbonisation.”
“It is imperative that the United States remain a strong and committed partner, offering technical expertise and resources to ensure the successful development of nuclear power across the continent.”
The US wants to promote clean energy technologies, especially in developing countries, as part of its broader strategy. President Joe Biden’s administration sees nuclear power as a critical tool in the fight against climate change, as it produces energy with virtually no emissions.
Nuclear power, despite its benefits, produces long-lived nuclear waste. NuScale is currently the only company licensed to build a US Small Modular Reactor (SMR), but last year canceled its sole US project due to cost escalation.
Other major players vying for the contract to build Ghana’s nuclear power plant were France’s EDF and China National Nuclear Corporation, according to an energy ministry official in May. South Korea’s Kepco, along with its subsidiary Korea Hydro Nuclear Power Corporation, as well as Russia’s ROSATOM, were also in the running for the decade-long project.
