Ghana signs deal to build NuScale small nuclear reactor – Firstpost

Ghana on Thursday signed a deal with a U.S. manufacturer for a nuclear reactor using technology from NuScale Power ( SMR.N ), the U.S. State Department said on Thursday, as the country seeks its first nuclear power plant.

Nuclear Power Ghana and Regnum Technology Group signed the agreement to develop a NuScale VOYGR-12 small modular reactor, or SMR, at a US-Africa nuclear energy summit in Nairobi.

SMRs are smaller than today’s reactors and can be built in a factory. But there are lingering questions about whether they will ever be rolled out commercially.

Why is it important?

The US seeks to promote what it considers clean energy technologies and sell them to developing countries. President Joe Biden’s administration believes nuclear power, which produces energy with virtually no emissions, is critical to combating climate change.

Nuclear power, on the other hand, produces long-lived nuclear waste.

NuScale is the only company licensed to manufacture American SMR. Last year it canceled its only US project amid rising costs.

Who was in contention to sign with Ghana?

Other contenders for the plant were France’s EDF and the China National Nuclear Corporation, an energy ministry official in Ghana said in May.

South Korea’s Kepco and subsidiary Korea Hydro Nuclear Power Corporation, as well as Russia’s ROSATOM, were also competing for the contract, which is expected to last for the next decade, the official said at the time.

Key quote

“Ghana and many other African countries are pursuing nuclear power to meet their economic growth, energy security and decarbonization goals,” said Aleshia Duncan, deputy assistant secretary for international cooperation at the US Department of Energy. “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.”