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Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the president of the republic, has recently introduced nuclear technology into the nation’s mix of energy production.
He claims that the action is in line with the collective worldwide commitment to the sustainable availability of power and the peaceful use of nuclear energy for the benefit of our society, to promote rapid industrialization, and to stimulate economic progress.
You may recall that in 2008, the cabinet decided to include nuclear energy in the mix of energy sources used in our nation, which opened the door for its inclusion in the National Energy Policy and Strategy.
“This led to the establishment of the Ghana Nuclear Power Programme Organisation (GNPPO) to oversee the implementation and coordination of the nuclear power programme. Ghana subsequently declared its intention to pursue a Nuclear Power Programme (NPP) for peaceful purposes in August, 2013, through a letter submitted to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).”
The Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NRA) Ghana, an independent nuclear regulatory body, and Nuclear Power Ghana (NPG), a project company to assume the role and responsibility as owner-operator, have been established by government, according to a statement released and signed by President of the Republic Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
The Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC), through its Technical Institute (the Nuclear Power Institute, NPI-GAEC), and with the assistance of other national bodies, “has met all the Phase-1 nuclear infrastructure requirements as recommended by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Milestone’s approach to satisfy all the relevant obligatory technical issues related to the introduction of nuclear power,” the statement continued.
The statement added that, “ in 2017 and 2019, the IAEA International Peer Review Mission, on the invitation of the country, undertook a review of the status of Ghana’s Phase 1 nuclear infrastructure development, and concluded that Ghana has satisfied all the prescribed studies for government to make a knowledgeable commitment to a Nuclear Power Programme. Furthermore, the numerous studies and progress of activities undertaken in Phase 1 of the nuclear power programme had been consolidated into the Programme Comprehensive Report (PCR).”
He said, “I, hereby, announce and instruct the Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI) and the Minister for Energy (MoE), in collaboration with the Chief of Staff at the Office of the President, to take all the necessary steps to move the Ghana Nuclear Power Programme Organisation (GNPPO) from the Ministry of Energy to the Office of the President, to enhance proper coordination among the key institutions already established. GAEC and its technical Institute (NPI-GAEC) will continue to play its supportive role to the GNPPO at the Office of the President following its re-alignment.
As a result, “I, hereby, announce and instruct the Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI) and the Minister for Energy (MoE), in collaboration with the Chief of Staff at the Office of the President, to take all the necessary steps to move the Ghana Nuclear Power Programme Organisation (GNPPO) from the Ministry of Energy to the Office of the President, to enhance proper coordination among the key institutions already established.”
Additionally, “GAEC and its technical Institute (NPI-GAEC) will continue to play its supportive role to the GNPPO at the Office of the President following its re-alignment, he added.
The declaration went on to say that the Government of Ghana had adopted the PCR’s content as a reflection of the country’s nuclear power infrastructure problems, committed to the peaceful uses of nuclear technology, as well as continuing their international cooperation and collaborations and taking part in the advancement of knowledge in all peaceful applications of nuclear technology.
The government pledged to “maintain their transparency, adherence to the strict standards of safety, security, and accountability in the peaceful uses of nuclear technology” as well as to “continue with its efforts to implement the nuclear power programme in the subsequent phases of the programme by using nuclear technology to generate electricity to accelerate national development and industrialization.”
Source: Ghanatodayonline.com
