The workshop participants
Executive Director of Nuclear Power Ghana (NPG), Dr. Stephen Yamoah has indicated that 15 vendors from China, US, Russia, Korea, Canada and France have expressed partnership interest in the establishment of the country’s first Nuclear Power Plant.
He said six of the companies have shown interest in establishing Large Reactors (700-1200), while nine others are interested in establishing Small Modular Reactors (300 MWe and below).
He said the NPG, through the Energy Ministry, sent invitations to six different countries, including US, China, Russia, and India for assistance.
“With the exception of India, all the countries responded to the request. India said it has so many commitments at the moment so it cannot come on board,” he said.
Dr. Yamoah, speaking at a workshop for selected media professionals in Accra said NPG the owner and operator of Ghana’s first proposed nuclear plant, was evaluating the proposals and a report would be submitted to the Minister of Energy for action after the assessment.
“Once we are done with our evaluation of the proposals from the vendors, we will send our report to the Energy Minster then we take it from there. So far, everything is on course,” he said.
Dr. Yamoah said they had successfully completed the first phase of the requirements adding that the second phase, which involved the selection of the project site and vendors, was on course.
He said the NPG had settled on four locations adding that further studies were ongoing to settle on a site.
Dr. Yamoah said the NPG was exploring various financial options for the project, hence its decision to engage the vendors to adopt the most appropriate and affordable technology.
“We want industries to come on board and deliver because the longer we postpone the project, the more expensive it becomes,” he said.
By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri