Nigeria may bungle its nuclear energy project if…

f things stand the way they   are, Nigeria’s nuclear power project may go the Nigerian way. It will gulp massive investments without achieving a desired end. This is when evaluating the success stories of those countries that have benefitted immensely from the project in comparison with the way Nigeria is going. Nigeria last week signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MOU, with ROSATOM to partner in building nuclear technology centre in Nigeria.

The MOU which was witnessed by over 45 000 people from 55 countries across the world that attended this year’s ATOM Expo conference in Moscow, Russia, was supposed to signal the beginning of a new turn for the country to have clean energy, steady electricity supply and be able to do deep research in nuclear medicine. However, experience has also shown that success is always determined by how serious, every country is, in carrying out certain processes that must be taken. Besides the huge financial base needed, some of other important processes include, ability to manage nuclear waste, availability of trained personnel and manpower needed to execute the programme
 

Nuclear programme

Many countries keen on implementing nuclear programme like Turkey, Bangladesh, Bolivia have deployed sizeable staff to understudy Russia on nuclear technology. For instance, Turkey has about 150 students in Russia studying, Bangladesh also has over 100 students but Nigeria has only four people undergoing training in Russia. Meanwhile, the country’s target in the first phase of its nuclear energy programme is to construct 1000 megawatts of electricity. Experts say the requirement to this is not less than 800 to 1000 trained human capacities. But ironically what Nigeria sent on training to Russia is just mere four. People deeply knowledgeable in Nuclear energy project said it was a joke to think that the country could make impact in such manner.

Electricity, Africa’s headache: 

Meanwhile, there are revelations that increased demand for electricity and nuclear medicine were the main reasons why many African countries are considering using nuclear power. At least that was the conclusion of panel of experts that attended the recently concluded annual ATOM EXPO 2016 in Moscow Russia. They said that going by the confessions of these countries, these two factors were majorly responsible for the scramble. The Russian government admitted that it was seeing many African countries developing interest in nuclear medicine since realizing that Nuclear can be used to harness clean energy and also in radiation for complicated disease. However, it can also be utilised for agriculture, in construction ofr material science and other industries. According to the General Director of World Nuclear Association, Agneta Rising,”Globally nuclear energy is growing. In 2015 nearly 10 gigawatts of nuclear capacity started supplying electricity. It’s also good because we need to provide electricity to those that don’t have it.

Biggest power crisis 

Lack of access to electricity is the biggest power crisis many developing countries face. The increased demand means that governments are under pressure to find cleaner and more reliable energy. It is reason why Russia is witnessing increased interest in its nuclear technology-particularly from these countries”. There are currently thirty countries from developing nations building nuclear reactors for the sole purpose of increasing electricity demands. But all the countries are at different stages of preparing infrastructure for nuclear development. 

Nigeria, Egypt, Zambia, Namibia, Ghana have all embarked on nuclear technology to increase energy consumption needs. Russia says nuclear also builds human capital and increases economic prosperity The Nigerian government for instance admitted that it aims to electrify at least eighty percent of its population by the year 2035, hence now investing in nuclear energy to meet the target. General Director Atomic Energy Commission in Nigeria Erepano Osaisai says Nigeria is seeking to diversify its economy by increasing agriculture output which nuclear technology can also advance. 

“ Our country has a large population of 180 million people and growing at a rate higher than 2.5 percemt per annum so the main reason behind Nigeria wanting to implement a nuclear power programme is to first of all diversify the energy supply base to include sources other than fossils and hydro. And in doing that we will provide energy that is clean and drive development” South Africa also is one of the few developing nations that has shown some interest in commitment to nuclear in its energy mix. The country faces challenges in electricity supply due to increased demand. 

South Africa has two nuclear reactors generating 5% of its electricity. But government said it needed to increase the use of Nuclear However, it is not only Africa that came to Russia to tap nuclear power to boost electricity supply.

Access to electricity consumption 

Bangladesh identified a nuclear reactor site in 1963, but only started to physically build a reactor in 2011- fifty years after toying with the idea. The country’s electricity demand has grown rapidly. It plans to generate 40 thousand MW by 2030 from coal, gas and nuclear. Chairman for the Atomic Energy in Bangladesh Ali Zurkarneyn said that Bangladesh is a small country with big population of about 60 million. Zurkameyn said that although almost 75 percent of the people have access to electricity consumption is low at 300 plus kilo per hour, per annum. 

“Government therefore took up serious program to improve electricity generation which was only 9 400 MW in 2009, though it has been increased to 15 thousand during the seven years. Government actually understands that we have to have energy mix.” He added. Other countries like Bolivia want to use nuclear technology for medicinal purposes, particularly in the reduction of cancer mortality rates in the country. 

The country’s deputy minister of energy, Joaquin Rodriguez also revealed that Nuclear development in Bolivia is mostly focused on building nuclear research centre and one aspect of this research is focused on research and nuclear research like combating cancer because of the big problem it posed for the country’s population. 

Radioactive waste: In the same vein, Nigeria and other African countries scrambling to build nuclear power centre have been warned to be cautious and ensure proper nuclear waste management.. All parts of the nuclear fuel cycle produce some radioactive waste (radwaste) and the relatively modest cost of managing and disposing of this is part of the electricity cost.. The main objective in managing and disposing of radioactive waste is to protect people and the environment. According to the Deputy Director General of IAE-a company that helps to create the necessary infrastructure for nuclear waste, Mr Mikhail Chudakov, “Russia is steadily seeing an interest in nuclear partnership from various African countries and countries in South East Asia.

Nuclear waste 

More important is that developing nations are planning to include energy in their energy mix but you should remember that it should be developed on the safety culture.” “Waste management in the nuclear power programme has been the main issue that we have had to address so when we are dealing with waste structures we should be able to deal with the waste and when you’re signing an agreement you should open your eyes well.” 

Over 45 countries are actively considering embarking upon nuclear power programmes. This ranges from sophisticated economies to developing nations. The front runners include the UAE, Turkey, Vietnam, and Poland. Bolivia, Indonesia, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania and Zambia also inked agreement. Rosatom estimated that the economic potential of agreements and memoranda signed at AtomExpo 2016 is as much as $10 billion. Director general, Sergey Kirienko, said that about 30 documents were signed during the three-day annual conference and exhibition.