Browsing: Nuclear energy in Africa

• Energy poverty remains one of the biggest body blows slowing growth in many regions in Africa.
• About 650 million people in Africa lack access to electricity, hindering economic growth and human development while worsening the quality of life.
• Experts agree that nuclear energy’s ability to operate efficiently for decades can be a game-changer in plugging the continent’s energy needs.

Energy poverty remains one of the biggest body blows slowing growth in many economies in Africa. Across Africa, energy poverty, which is manifest in over 650 million people lacking access to electricity, is hindering economic growth. This challenge further slows human development besides worsening the overall quality of life.

It is against this backdrop that experts at the African Energy Week in Cape Town delved into a discussion exploring how countries can tap nuclear power to meet Africa’s energy demands and put an end to energy poverty.

Nuclear power can

Africa’s nuclear energy sector has undergone quite a transformation, with multiple governments moving past traditional energy sources to new, greener, and more sustainable ones. Nuclear energy has been a hot topic for most governments, with countries such as South Africa and Uganda releasing project plans for nuclear power plants. In recent news, Tanzania shocked the globe by revealing its nuclear energy plans at the Second Russia-Africa Summit. With these new developments, Tanzania has cast the die stating its intent to outpace its peers and dominate the upcoming era of technology.…

• Uganda signed a deal with China under which the China National Nuclear Corporation(CNNC) would assist its endeavours to tap into one of the few Nuclear energy sources in Africa.
• The first nuclear project, Buyende Nuclear Power Plant, will be located in Buyende, approximately 150 km(93 miles) north of Kampala.
• Uganda has an estimated 52000 square kilometres of uranium deposits around Buganda, Toro, Ankle and Bunyoro.

Africa takes the next step in its evolution as Uganda announced its plans to generate at least 1000 MegaWatts(MW) from its nuclear power plant by 2031. This lines up with its efforts to identify alternative energy solutions that guarantee faster and more efficient electricity production. Uganda will become one of the few countries to produce nuclear energy in Africa, further boosting its economic growth exponentially.

Uganda first discovered its uranium deposits in 2004, and since then, nuclear power became a valid option for the country. …