Ghana: Nuclear Is The Safest, Cleanest-Dr Opoku Prempeh

The Minister–designate for Ghana’s Energy Ministry, Dr Matthew Opoku-Prempeh has backed his country’s decision to introduce nuclear energy into its energy generation mix.

In his view, energy from ‘nuclear is the safest and cleanest’ and, therefore, underscored the need for the country to pursue its nuclear power agenda.

Ghana’s nuclear power agenda dates back in 1963 when the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission was established with the launch of 2MW research reactor.

The decision was, however, suspended until 2008 when a Cabinet decision was taken to include nuclear in the electricity generation mix.

Since then, successive governments have shown maximum support and cooperation towards the realisation of this goal.

In 2017, the current administration proceeded to establish the Owner/Operator Organisation-Nuclear Power Ghana (NPG) which has been duly registered as a limited liability company for the Nuclear Power Plant.

However, Institute for Energy Security IES, an energy think tank in the Republic of Ghana, has opposed the country’s plan to add nuclear energy into the energy mix, citing the cost involved in its construction and time frame.

But responding to a question at the Appointments’ Committee of Parliament on Friday, February 12, 2021, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh noted that the country has made progress in its quest towards nuclear power energy addition into the energy mix.

He said almost all successive governments have supported the agenda of adding nuclear energy into the energy mix.

He explained that the country has got to a state where it would be selecting a vendor, adding that the vendor would decide on the technology to be used.

Source: www.energynewsafrica.com