The State Atomic Energy Corporation (ROSATOM) of Russia on Monday, October 16, 2023, met with Ghana’s Energy Minister, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh on the sidelines of the year’s Africa Energy Week.
The meeting, which is underway in Cape Town, South Africa, is to deepen discussions on cooperation with Ghana on the nuclear energy front.
Speaking at the meeting, the leader of the delegation and Chief Executive Officer of ROSATOM with oversight responsibility over Central and Southern Africa, Ryan Collyer, made reference to an initial Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Ghana and Rosatom in 2015 on nuclear cooperation which includes design and construction of nuclear power plants for the production of electricity and water desalination, nuclear research reactors and atomic particle accelerators, among others.
He also spoke on their current proposal for Ghana to construct a Nuclear Power Plant in respect of which the latest information was sent to Nuclear Power Ghana on Friday, October 13, 2023.
ROSATOM, he said, has commenced the construction of a fleet of Floating Nuclear Power Plants as part of plans to supply power to Ghana’s grid through a Power Purchase Agreement.
“We are very committed to this project in Ghana, and we want to ensure that this cooperation works,” the CEO said.
He continued, “We are also very committed to our Floating Nuclear Power Plant efforts, all in the bid to strengthen the cooperation with Ghana.”
Mr. Collyer further spoke about the advantages of Small Modular Reactors in parallel for industry, drawing similarities to what pertains in Russia.
ROSATOM asked the Minister to assist them in finding a Ghanaian industry partner for a long-term agreement in this direction.
On his part, the Energy Minister, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh recounted Ghana’s long-standing relations with Russia, citing the fact that Ghana’s quest for oil discovery was first led by Russians.
He said the Government of Ghana continues to support the Ghana Nuclear Power Programme, by participating, funding and making various contributions and giving support to the realization of the set goals of the programme.
“Ghana has completed the phase 1 stage of the Nuclear Power Programme according to the IAEA milestones approach and has launched into the phase two stage of the nuclear power programme which requires comprehensive feasibility study and implementation works,” he said.
The Minister said, Ghana’s main preoccupation is funding and therefore making efforts at attracting same.
He expressed satisfaction at the request for further Information by Russia which demonstrates their seriousness to co-operate with Ghana.
Ghana, he said, is looking at long-term agreements which span 40-50 years in the nuclear space as nuclear has become a critical part of the clean energy conversation across the globe.
He reiterated that, Ghana is very much looking for a country that will demonstrate commitment to funding and investing in nuclear projects as that is also the priority of the President.
In June 2022, President Akufo-Addo made a declaration on the approval by Carbinet for the inclusion of Nuclear in the national energy mix.
The Ministry of Energy under the leadership of Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh has been consolidating efforts in this regard towards the construction of a nuclear power plant also pursuant to the country’s clean energy agenda.
