Ministers and government officials from several countries in Africa discussed the potential of nuclear energy in supporting sustainable development and the transition to clean and reliable energy as the International Atomic Energy Agency released a new publication on climate change and nuclear energy at a side event during the 66th General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency. today.
the event, Supporting the Energy Transition in Africa Presented the 2022 version of Climate change and nuclear energy, which is updated every two years and provides a wealth of information and technical data on the benefits of nuclear energy in contributing to achieving net greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. This year’s publication presents a chapter on nuclear power in Africa, transformed by IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi had a wide discussion with representatives from Egypt, Ghana, Kenya and South Africa at today’s event. “Everywhere I hear this global conversation about energy security, climate change and nuclear power, whether due to changes in conditions, climate or security needs, it is crystal clear that nuclear power now has a place at the table,” Grossi said. . “What I like about this discussion is that there is no discussion without Africa. Africans themselves have said […] We need to contribute, and we need our own analysis of how this nuclear gem is being used in African economies. “
According to the new prospectus, about 600 million people and 10 million small businesses in Africa do not have a reliable source of electricity, and increasingly, a connection to a national grid is no guarantee of electricity supply. Power outages are becoming more frequent, and in sub-Saharan Africa, the World Bank reports that nearly 80 percent of businesses are experiencing power outages, significantly limiting their activities. Meanwhile, energy demand in Africa is growing twice as fast as the global average, driven largely by urban population growth.
Against this background, several countries in Africa are exploring the possibility of adding nuclear power to their energy mix, as Egypt recently started building its first nuclear power plant. South Africa, the continent’s only nuclear operator with two reactors totaling about 2,000 megawatts, is considering the long-term operation of the Koeberg nuclear power plant and the expansion of its nuclear power programme.
Egypt, the host country of the upcoming United Nations Climate Summit, or COP27, in November recently began implementing the first of four 1,200 megawatt reactors it plans to build in El Dabaa on the Mediterranean coast. “Egypt chose nuclear energy because it provides a stable source of energy that will last for decades,” said Mohamed El-Molla, Egypt’s resident representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Through its landmark approach, the IAEA supports nearly 30 countries of the so-called new nuclear country in Africa and around the world in their efforts to develop the infrastructure needed for a safe, secure and sustainable nuclear energy program. Ghana has been working with the agency for several years, including an IAEA-led Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review (INIR) mission in 2017.
“Ghana is looking forward to the introduction of nuclear power to provide the diversity necessary to the base load to ensure energy security for our future requirements,” said Kwaku Afriye, Ghana’s Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation.. “Our hydropower potential is nearly exhausted, and so our interest in nuclear power is to make sure we have the energy for our transition and development.” While 40 percent of Ghana’s energy comes from hydropower, it accounts for 17 percent of Africa’s total electricity generation and is on the rise, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). In countries such as Uganda, Zambia and Malawi, the share of hydropower generation exceeds 80 percent.
Hydropower is low-carbon and goes a long way to meeting net-zero obligations, but as climate patterns change, so is the availability and reliability of water supply. Africa is particularly vulnerable to these changes. The International Energy Agency predicts that in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Morocco, Zambia and Zimbabwe, climate change will lead to a significant reduction in hydropower capacity by the end of the century. Many other countries will experience unpredictable fluctuations in hydropower supplies.
If electricity demand continues to grow and climate change causes hydropower production to decline, countries will be able to secure primary load electricity only through fossil fuel sources or nuclear power. But according to the World Bank, the public finances of developing African countries have worsened amid the COVID pandemic, leaving many unable to finance large infrastructure projects themselves.
“This means that international finance will be vital,” said Henry Bellair, the agency’s chief of planning and economic studies, which produces the semi-annual publication. Establishing special economic zones with economic systems designed around reliable local infrastructure would be one way to attract foreign investment. These areas can then serve as clean energy hubs that will benefit surrounding communities and act as a catalyst for energy transitions at the national level.”
Participants heard that new technology such as small modular reactors (SMRs), with lower upfront costs and easier financing than conventional reactors, may provide one option and be more suitable for existing small power grids in many African countries.
As countries in Africa consider or embark on the use of nuclear energy, Mr. Grossi assured that they would have the full support of the IAEA. “The IAEA will be with you every step of the way,” he said.
from San Jose News Bulletin https://sjnewsbulletin.com/new-iaea-publication-on-climate-change-and-nuclear-energy-highlights-potential-in-africa/
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