Ghana’s Nuclear Power Agenda revived – GAEC

A research scientist with the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission has expressed hope in Ghana’s ability to become a nuclear power if renewed interest in the area is sustained.

According to Dr. Vincent Yao Agbodemegbe, the project could be enhanced further if local industries also show interest, since they stand to benefit from a nuclear project by the state.

The Scientist was speaking to Francis Abban on Ghana’s quest for nuclear power on the science programme segment, The Horizon, on the Morning Starr.

“For some time now, the nuclear power program has stalled but now there is a renewed commitment to the call and the expertise is there to work with….There are a lot of fears in the world around nuclear power so it takes time to ensure that safety is not comprised. So we ensure that from the beginning of the program, everything is about safety. There is a lot of due diligence to ensure that nothing is compromised.

“Because of all that, and also making sure that all the necessary licenses are secured by meeting the regulatory regimes. Normally, developing a nuclear power program takes between 10 to 15 years. And this 10 to 15 years depends on when the resources are available when we need them,” he explained.

There are currently no nuclear power plants in Ghana, although there is one nuclear research reactor in Ghana as well as plans to build a power plant. The Ghana Atomic Energy Commission has been investigating the use of power and is a member of the international nuclear Library Network.