Ghana's first nuclear power plant vendor selection nears conclusion
Ghana is currently faced with the task of choosing a contractual vendor country to construct its very first nuclear energy power plant.
According to the Executive Director of Nuclear Power Ghana overseeing the project, Stephen Yamoah, outgoing President Nana Akufo-Addo will announce the chosen vendor after the ongoing bidding process.
The decision is expected to be revealed by the end of 2024, Semafor reports.
While initial reports set lofty targets for Ghana's nuclear capacity, including 700 megawatts (MW) ready for commissioning by 2025, a joint study conducted by the International Atomic Energy Agency and UN-Energy in 2006 suggested a more realistic goal of a 300MW reactor by 2025.
Ghana's collaboration with Rosatom initiated through a nuclear cooperation agreement signed in 2015, underscores its commitment to nuclear development.
However, Yamoah conceded that Ghana may miss its 2030 plant construction target due to vendor selection delays. Construction is slated to commence in 2026, with an estimated completion timeline of five years.
Dr Robert Sogbadzie, Deputy Director of Power at the Ministry of Energy, outlined Ghana's ambitious goals for nuclear energy utilization. The country aims for nuclear power to constitute 5% of its energy mix by 2030, substantially increasing to 35% by 2070. Sogbadzie stressed that the selection criteria prioritize factors such as cost-effectiveness and technological suitability, with political considerations taking a back seat.
The country aims to integrate nuclear power into its existing mix of hydro, thermal, and renewable energy sources.
