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Will nuclear power light up Africa’s darkest corners?
Will nuclear power light up Africa’s darkest corners? Ten African countries are pursuing nuclear energy programmes. Guinea this month signed a deal for a floating nuclear plant
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Hello – we’d like to make a case for including nuclear energy in Africa’s green economy.
Admittedly, it’s controversial. Many doubts swirl around. We know we’re being provocative.
But if we’re serious about no-carbon energy, all solutions should be considered.
In any case – nuclear is on the continent already as an addition to renewables.
Climate action can no longer ignore the subject. The key is getting it right.
We ask: Where is nuclear energy suitable and which kind?
⏳ Today’s reading time: 4 mins
LOGISTICS UPDATE | Thursday 27 June
EVENTS…
📆 Kenya hosts Agritech trade show & conference (July 2)
📆 Egypt hosts Green Energy & Technology summit (July 11)
📆 Nigeria hosts Natural Resources & Energy event (July 16)
AND JOBS…
💼 UNDP seeks an administrative & finance assistant (Angola)
💼 The World Bank is looking for a lead energy specialist (Niger)
💼 Charging infra project manager vacancy at BasiGo (Rwanda)
1.🚁 Heli view: When nuclear is part of the answer to African climate questions
Guinea and Russia’s State Atomic Energy Corporation this month signed a deal to deploy a floating nuclear power plant off the coast of West Africa. Is that crazy?
Anyone on the continent who rejects nuclear energy out of hand should recall two facts:
At least 80% of the world’s off-grid population lives in Africa.
Only 24% of the continent’s total energy output currently comes from renewables.
The crux: Africa needs many more clean energy sources to serve growing demand while meeting its net-zero emissions target by 2050.
Solar and wind power are intermittent, depending on weather.
Hydro is effective but limited to regions with large water sources.
Nuclear produces stable and clean energy as a matter of course.
Clocking on: That explains why at least ten African nations are getting involved.
South Africa has had nuclear energy for decades. It is now adding 2,500 MW to its existing 1,700 MW Koeberg plant.
Egypt is building four reactors, each with 1,200 MW.
Nigeria is set to build a 4,000 MW plant.
Uganda and Rwanda have deals for construction.
Kenya, Ghana, Tanzania and Morocco are holding talks with suppliers.
Status quo: Globally, almost 500 reactors in over 30 countries generate about 10% of our electricity, trumping all sources except hydro in terms of clean power.
Africa’s nuclear capacity will increase 58% by 2030 and tenfold by 2050.
The question is – what will it cost?
Economics: To compare sources, the industry calculates the “Levelised Cost of Energy” (LCOE). It’s a measure of the average net present cost over a source’s lifetime.
Nuclear energy is not cheap at around $0.1 / kWh.
However, this is based on relatively few large reactors built in the past two decades.
New smaller reactors could be up to 30% more affordable.
Comparison: Costwise, nuclear sits in the middle of the spectrum (see chart above).
South Africa’s Koeberg nuclear plant generates 5% of the country’s electricity and has the lowest cost of energy in the country.
Directional change: Solar and other renewable technologies have become cheaper over the past decade. And so has nuclear – operating costs are down 26.5% since 2012.
Step change: The nuclear energy sector is in the middle of a transformation, turning away from large and expensive but exceedingly powerful plants.
They output over 1,000 MW and can produce 24,000 MWh per day.
They’re not only expensive but pose greater risks in case of an accident.
Modern take: Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) are deemed the future of nuclear energy. They are more suitable for low-middle income countries with limited electric grids.
SMRs can range from less than 10 MW up to 300 MW.
They require smaller upfront investments but are less efficient.
First mover: Rwanda is evaluating various SMR models and sites with a view to installing two SMRs.
South Africa is conducting SMR research while building a large-scale plant.
Other African contenders still mainly focus on large reactors.
The money: All nuclear energy requires big investments, which few countries can afford.
Russia and China are offering funding for eight African nuclear projects.
The US is providing some funding for a Ghanaian SMR project.
Geopolitics is rarely far when it comes to the nuclear industry.
Stability concerns: Nuclear plants have long triggered popular pushback. Nigeria has been declared a “nation in conflict” by the World Bank, raising safety questions.
In response, some suppliers have offered to remove nuclear waste.
That still leaves concerns over accidents and proliferation.
What’s needed: Worldwide, nuclear energy is one of the most regulated industries. African nations need to put fundamentals in place to progress safely. That means:
Creating regulatory frameworks
Developing human resources
Creating more grid infrastructure
Setting up regional cooperation
Key question: How will nuclear fit into the energy mix? As shown by renewables, Africa does well with distributed power sources. That suggests small modular reactors.
SMRs don’t require enormous grids to deliver centralised baseloads.
They are built using less capital and are less complex to run.
They can be plugged in locally to support dense urban or industrial areas.
Bottom line: Nuclear is an option but no panacea. Key is picking the right technology. Nobody is suggesting a move away from renewables. But nor should the perfect be the enemy of the good. If the climate is in crisis, innovation and pragmatism are needed.