African countries are aiming to achieve a total nuclear power generating capacity of 15 GW by 2035, most of it in West Africa. This would require a capital investment of $105-billion. This was highlighted at a recent webinar organised by the Nuclear Business Platform consultancy, with the participation of officials from the International Atomic Energy Agency, Burkina Faso, Ghana and Nigeria.

More than 15 African countries have formal nuclear energy programmes, at different stages of development. These range from the adoption of the necessary policies to the development of regulations, and from site selection to discussions with vendors.

On a regional level, the West African Power Pool plans to deploy eight nuclear reactors with a total capacity of 10 GW by 2035. This will cover 10% of the region’s forecast electricity demand by then.  

The expectation is that the local content participation in these projects will initially be in the range of 30% to 40%. The programmes are also expected to involve the upgrading of African industries and the development of skilled jobs. 

In terms of technologies, both Ghana and Nigeria have opted to focus on small modular reactors (SMRs), not only because of their modularity but also because of their ability to be matched to these countries’ grids.

Ghana launched an SMR simulator last year, a major step in developing the necessary training infrastructure, not only for the country and the region, but for the whole continent. The country is in discussions with vendors and identifying the different delivery models. Accra expects to enter the next (third) phase of its nuclear programme by next year. The expectation is that the major technical studies, the finalisation of the site characteristics and the feasibility studies will be completed within three years. Construction of the first nuclear plant could start by the early- to mid-2030s.

Nigeria has created a comprehensive framework for the nuclear sector and is developing a gamma radiation facility as part of the country’s food security programme. The country is also planning a multipurpose research reactor, which will also produce industrial and medical radioisotopes. For nuclear energy, it is prioritising the passing of a modernised atomic energy Bill and the creation of an owner-operator entity.

Regarding other countries, Burkina Faso created its atomic energy agency (ABEA) last year, and is now focused on regulatory frameworks and human capital development. Kenya is aiming to have its first nuclear plant by 2034, under the country’s 70%-State-owned national electricity utility, KenGen. Uganda, which is undertaking a site study in the Buyende district in the country’s Eastern Region, expects its first nuclear plant to start operating in 2031.

The webinar was a precursor event to the fifth Africa Nuclear Business Platform Conference and Exhibition, which will take place in Abuja, Nigeria, in April.