Latest news with #Framatome
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
This Seattle Democrat doesn't know all that's best for our side of WA
Washington Senate Majority Leader Jamie Pedersen, D-Seattle, blocked a bill that would have helped the Tri-Cities secure billions in economic investment and more than 1,000 jobs. A Seattle-based state leader thinks he knows what is best for this side of the Cascade Mountains. House Bill 1210, sponsored by Rep. Stephanie Barnard, R-Pasco, was close to passage. It had already passed the House with bipartisan support and was heading toward a floor vote in the Senate in the waning days of the legislative session. The bill would have modified the rules for Targeted Urban Areas. TUAs are areas that local governments create to lure manufacturing and industrial development with temporary property tax breaks. Businesses commit to investing in improvements and creating living wage jobs. Richland was the first city to create a TUA. It includes the Northwest Advanced Clean Energy Park, the Horn Rapids Industrial Park and the Richland Airport. Richland's Targeted Urban Area attracted several projects, among them proposals by Framatome Inc. and Washington Energy LLC. The two companies operate in the nuclear power industry. Framatome already has facilities in the area and planned to spend $375 million expanding its nuclear fuel plant. Washington Energy, meanwhile, is considering building a $3 billion nuclear fuel plant. These companies are poised to play a significant role in the future of nuclear fuel production, a sector where the Tri-Cities possess expertise and infrastructure thanks to its history with the Hanford site and the presence of the Columbia Generating Station. The hitch is that state law sets a timeline for businesses in a TUA to deliver their projects and the accompanying jobs. The tax breaks last for a decade, but only on projects completed in five years or less. That's fine for a lot of businesses, but nuclear fuel companies face a lengthy federal approval process from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, which can take years. Barnard introduced HB 1210 to address that regulatory reality. It would have granted nuclear projects in Targeted Urban Areas up to an additional four years to receive their certification, build and hire workers. Pedersen wasn't having it. As majority leader, he has the power to reroute a bill from a floor vote, effectively killing it, and he did just that. Pedersen cited budget shortfalls as one reason to block the bill, but HB 1210 would not have affected state revenue. The only taxes involved are local. Richland is gambling on these companies delivering what they promise, not the state. Hopefully local leaders have done their homework and carefully thought it through. Pedersen also expressed concern about the lack of a national nuclear waste storage facility. That view caters to nuclear-phobia among his liberal base in the Puget Sound area. The Tri-Cities is already home to a nuclear power plant that responsibly manages its spent fuel. Moreover, Framatome, a company with a long-standing presence in Richland, demonstrated its commitment to safe operations during a recent dustup with federal regulators over nuclear materials. To suggest that a lack of a permanent federal repository to hold nuclear waste should halt all progress in nuclear energy and manufacturing ignores the current safe storage practices. Adding to the urgency is the need for more energy to power electric cars and digital industries as well as to replace energy generation capacity that could be lost due to dam removals. Nuclear power offers a reliable, carbon-free alternative that can produce energy 24 hours a day, unlike wind and solar. Blocking HB 1210 was not just a setback for the Tri-Cities; it was a missed opportunity for all of Washington to embrace clean energy. It's hard to imagine Pedersen's predecessor, Sen. Andy Billig from Spokane, pulling this same sort of aggressive legislative maneuvering on a bill that would help this side of the state. We urge Pedersen to reconsider his stance and invite him to visit the Tri-Cities. Firsthand engagement with this community might cultivate a deeper understanding of the nuclear expertise here and a clearer view of the economic opportunities at stake. Then, if a similar bill is introduced next year, he might at least let senators vote on it.
Reuters
25-03-2025
- Business
- Reuters
French industry awaits shift in EDF strategy under new CEO
PARIS, March 25 (Reuters) - Bernard Fontana, France's nominee to head state nuclear company EDF, would face a daunting to-do list if he gets the job, with his most pressing task being to conclude months of tense talks with French industry over the price of long-term power supply. A new system for French electricity sales to heavy industry takes effect next year, while the lack of progress on the issue was enough to cost current CEO Luc Remont his job, according to a government source and media reports. EDF's pricey offers have so far attracted few companies, raising the risk that both the utility and the country's biggest companies are left buying and selling at market prices without long-term visibility. EDF's failure to agree new, long-term contracts with businesses had become a growing source of frustration for Paris, keen to support an industry already weakened by high energy prices in recent years. It has also stirred debate about the company's mission, with industry executives and former officials calling for it to serve a public function. President Emmanuel Macron's office said in an unexpected announcement on Friday that it had asked Fontana, currently boss of nuclear engineering firm Framatome, to take over from Luc Remont, whose mandate expires this summer. A day earlier, Benoit Bazin, chief executive of construction materials company Saint Gobain, had called out EDF in a media interview for its failure to fulfil its "historic partnership" with industry. "The core issue is: Is EDF a public company that should sell at cost or is it a commercial company that should make a profit?", said Emeric de Vigan, CEO at Paris-based energy consultancy 42 Advisors. EDF does not disclose its costs of production and declined to comment on the change of leadership. Remont, who has run EDF since its nationalisation in 2023, said in French newspaper Le Figaro on Sunday that he was not prepared to run the company like a public authority. TOUGH TALKS Fontana's appointment must be approved by parliament in the coming weeks. The country's largest party, the National Rally, plans to support his nomination, its member of parliament Jean-Philippe Tanguy told reporters on Tuesday. Industry experts and analysts say Fontana would need to lower the company's offers to conclude negotiations. EDF's nuclear fleet produces about 70% of France's electricity. Under the new nuclear production allocation scheme (CAPN) it can sell power at a fixed price under long-term contracts to large users, who make up about 10% of the country's total demand. With only around a quarter of the amount initially targeted by the government committed, the company recently announced it would open up its supply to companies outside France, further angering domestic industry. "The main problems are visibility and price," said Fabrice Alexandre, a representative at industry lobby Uniden, which represents companies like Renault and Air Liquide. Industry is willing to pay more upfront for long-term security, but it expects a lower price, he said, adding that companies want deals finalised before the summer. Fontana will need to offer prices of around 50 euros per megawatt hour (MWh) to win over industry, said De Vigan, well below the 70 euros or more that it has been proposing. Progress in the long-term contract negotiations is also key to moving forward with a major buildout of new reactors, added De Vigan. "If the old fleet is competitive enough, then demand will pick up and the new fleet will be needed," he said.
Reuters
21-03-2025
- Business
- Reuters
French president picks new CEO for EDF in unexpected shakeup
PARIS, March 21 (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron has proposed a new CEO at state-owned utility EDF, the Elysee said on Friday, in an unexpected move just two years after current chief executive Luc Remont took on the role. Macron proposed Bernard Fontana, currently head of nuclear engineering group Framatome, take over, the statement said, without offering details on why Remont was being replaced.
Zawya
06-03-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Zimbabwe Joins Other African Nations in Pursuit of Nuclear Power
Zimbabwe is joining other African nations exploring nuclear power as a way to help solve chronic problems with electricity supply. Demand for power continues to increase on the continent due to growing populations and economic expansion. 1. The Koeberg nuclear power station in South Africa is the only nuclear power plant on the African continent. Its two units, with more than 1,800 MW of generation capacity in total, have operated since the mid-1980s. Courtesy: Eskom The only African country currently producing nuclear energy is South Africa. The French-built Koeberg plant (Figure 1) near Cape Town, with two Framatome reactors and just more than 1,800 MW of generation capacity, has operated for 40 years. Officials have said Russia will work on an expansion of that power station, and possibly on construction of new reactors elsewhere in the country. Eskom, South Africa's state power company, said it re-connected Unit 2 at Koeberg to the national grid on Dec. 30 of last year after replacing three steam generators, conducting comprehensive inspections, and refueling the reactor. A decision on extending the unit's operating license is expected this year. Koeberg Unit 1's operating license was renewed last year for another 20 years, to 2044. The Koeberg units, both pressurized water reactors, have operated since 1984 and 1985, respectively. Bheki Nxumalo, group executive for generation at Eskom, in a statement said, 'As South Africa phases out some of the aging coal-fired power plants by 2030, nuclear energy is poised to provide a reliable and stable baseload supply. Unlike intermittent renewable sources, nuclear power ensures continuous electricity generation, meeting the needs of both residential and industrial users. Its ability to produce carbon-free energy also supports South Africa's climate goals by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.' Edgar Moyo, minister of Zimbabwe's Energy and Power Development, said his country plans to increase its power generation capacity to at least 4 GW by 2035, up from the current 2.6 GW, although government data shows actual daily power generation is about half of capacity. Moyo said his country will collaborate with Russia on construction of small nuclear reactors. Moyo in late December told journalists at a meeting in Harare, Zimbabwe, that the IAEA 'have indicated their willingness to take us through paces until we get there.' Russia already has agreements to build nuclear power plants with Egypt, Nigeria, and Burkina Faso, in addition to South Africa. Russian nuclear energy state-owned company Rosatom and the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Zimbabwe in 2021 signed a memorandum of understanding to cooperate on nuclear energy. Economists and geopolitical analysts have said Russia wants to take a lead role in Africa's energy future to expand its influence on the continent. 'A reliable nuclear energy infrastructure could supply electricity to millions of people in rural or underserved areas,' said Irina Tsukerman, an adviser and foreign policy expert with Scarab Rising, a U.S.-based geopolitical research group. 'Many African countries still face significant gaps in electricity access, and nuclear power can help bridge that gap, particularly in countries with a growing urban population. Nuclear energy can provide a stable supply for expanding economies, ensuring industries and households have reliable power without frequent outages or blackouts, which are common in many parts of Africa.' Tsukerman told POWER, 'Right now, South Africa is the only country in Africa with a nuclear plant, although several more are being planned. In theory, introduction of nuclear power throughout the continent could be effective in addressing power shortages. That's because nuclear power has significant advantages over other forms of energy that could work well, including in developing countries.' Tsukerman said nuclear power would benefit Africa because it would provide 'reliable energy production' as well as 'large amounts of energy from relatively small amounts of fuel. For countries with limited land or resources, nuclear power can provide a reliable source of electricity without requiring vast areas of land, unlike solar or wind energy, which depend on large installations.' Gloria Magombo, Zimbabwe's secretary for energy and power development, during a December 2024 media briefing said that in addition to nuclear power, the country also wants to deploy more renewable energy resources apart from hydropower, which has been impacted by drought conditions. Magombo said, 'We are looking at coming in by 2030 with up to about 2,000 megawatts' from solar, wind, and hydropower resources. The country has a National Renewable Energy Program, though officials have said private investment along with public capital will be needed to support a build-out. A Renewable Energy Fund was launched in September of last year. The U.S. State Department in a report last year said, 'Debt significantly hinders Zimbabwe's economic growth and development,' noting the country 'owes over $9 billion [$7.0 billion of which is in arrears and penalties] to international financial institutions and bilateral creditors, equating to about 33% of the country's GDP [gross domestic product].' Dr. Lisa Marshall, president of the American Nuclear Society, and Dr. Sola Talabi, president of Pittsburgh Technical, a nuclear power consulting firm, told POWER that nuclear power would offer reliable baseload power for Zimbabwe and other African nations, and serve as a complement to other sources of energy while promoting foreign investment. The two noted that with 'population growth and socio-economic needs, what nuclear energy brings to the table is an energy course that can be coupled with district heating [providing higher efficiencies and better pollution control than localized boilers, for instance], as well as the potential of radioisotopes for medical diagnosis and treatment.' The two said that the World Bank Group categorizes Zimbabwe as a 'lower middle-income country with strong human and natural capital and significant growth potential. Building on its highly educated workforce, abundant natural resources, and recent advances in economic policy, together with key structural and institutional reforms, Zimbabwe could achieve steady and rapid growth and move towards an upper middle-income country status, which the Government of Zimbabwe has targeted for 2030.' They noted that the 'simplified and decentralized infrastructure of advanced reactors make them very attractive to emerging markets where large infrastructure deployment is very challenging. For example, a microreactor can be deployed within days, thereby providing immediate power.' Tsukerman agreed that nuclear power would be a way to attract foreign investment to Africa. 'Nuclear power projects, due to their size and complexity, can attract foreign investments, boosting economic development and infrastructure in the surrounding regions,' she said. 'Building and maintaining nuclear power plants requires skilled labor, including engineers, technicians, and construction workers. This can help boost local economies and create long-term employment.' Tsukerman also noted that nuclear power could help lower or even eliminate some African countries reliance on imported oil, natural gas, and coal for power generation. 'Nuclear power can help reduce this reliance, enhancing energy security and ensuring a more stable energy supply,' she said. Tsukerman also noted that 'Africa has significant uranium reserves, and mining it for nuclear power could provide a domestic source of fuel. Countries like Namibia, Niger, and South Africa have the potential to harness this resource.' Marshall and Talabi said there would be a connection between Zimbabwe's mining industry and its increased interest in nuclear power, saying that advanced reactors and microreactors have the potential to decarbonize the mining sector. They said that advanced reactors can provide reliable, low-carbon heat and electricity for mining operations, replacing traditional fossil fuel-based energy sources. This would help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support climate goals. The two also noted that many of the country's mining operations are located in remote areas where access to the grid is limited. They said that microreactors 'can be readily deployed in these off-grid locations to provide a stable power supply, reducing reliance on diesel generators.' Talabi and Marshall said that the country's 'mining sector is essential for the clean energy transition, as it supplies critical minerals like lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements needed for renewable energy technologies. Microreactors can enable sustainable and cost-effective mining of these minerals.' Whether U.S. companies, particularly those in the nuclear power space, would invest in Zimbabwe is questionable. The U.S. government ended its Zimbabwe Sanctions Program in March of last year, but continues to monitor individuals and companies under its Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, or GloMag, part of the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control. Officials in the U.S. and other countries, including the UK, have cited corruption, political instability, and the country's high levels of debt as reasons to be wary of investment. Tsukerman noted the economic issues in Zimbabwe and other African countries are also a factor. 'A downside of the U.S. reactors is that they tend to be more expensive than the Russian and Chinese technologies, they are limited in scale and size, and so more would need to be purchased to serve communities,' she said, noting the U.S. 'has yet to negotiate agreements with many of these countries, which in itself could be a monumental task given an anti-Western trend, particularly in West Africa, on the one hand, and the aggressive entry of other actors, such as Russia and China, on the other. Moreover, the U.S. has strict anti-corruption laws, which complicate bidding for tenders in countries with a different business culture, and many of the U.S. companies are reluctant to engage anywhere with an apparent high business risk.' India is another country working to make inroads in Africa. 'India currently is at the forefront of building thorium reactors,' said Tsukerman. 'According to plan, 30% of the Indian electricity in 2050 will be generated from thorium-based reactors. India is also a growing power throughout Africa, striving to compete with China and to expand its own geopolitical and economic reach. It has no shortage of workforce or engineers, and its work would be cheaper than U.S. or European implementation. However, so far India has not applied power plant outreach to its economic programs in Africa, and also struggles with modernizing its own business culture and implementation, focusing on exports of raw materials for the time being.' 2. Officials in Ghana, along with U.S.-based Regnum Technology Group, last year reached an agreement to deploy a NuScale VOYGR-12 small modular reactor in Ghana. Courtesy: NuScale Power There is some U.S. investment for nuclear technology in Africa. At the U.S.-Africa Nuclear Energy Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, last year, Nuclear Power Ghana and U.S. nuclear technology project developer Regnum Technology Group reached an agreement to deploy a single NuScale VOYGR-12 (Figure 2) small modular reactor (SMR) facility in Ghana. Their goal is to own and operate the continent's first commercial advanced light-water SMR plant. 'Of course, whether the Western powers decide to compete with the Russian and Chinese variants depends a lot on the terms they can negotiate,' said Tsukerman. She said that Japan, 'which is making slow headways in the more-developed African countries like Kenya, could be well-positioned to provide a viable alternative to Russia and China in the nuclear sector.' — Darrell Proctor is a senior editor for POWER.
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Zimbabwe Joins Other African Nations in Pursuit of Nuclear Power
Officials in Zimbabwe recently said the country will work with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and likely with investment from Russia, to develop a nuclear power program in the country. Zimbabwe is joining other African nations exploring nuclear power as a way to help solve chronic problems with electricity supply. Demand for power continues to increase on the continent due to growing populations and economic expansion. 1. The Koeberg nuclear power station in South Africa is the only nuclear power plant on the African continent. Its two units, with more than 1,800 MW of generation capacity in total, have operated since the mid-1980s. Courtesy: Eskom The only African country currently producing nuclear energy is South Africa. The French-built Koeberg plant (Figure 1) near Cape Town, with two Framatome reactors and just more than 1,800 MW of generation capacity, has operated for 40 years. Officials have said Russia will work on an expansion of that power station, and possibly on construction of new reactors elsewhere in the country. Eskom, South Africa's state power company, said it re-connected Unit 2 at Koeberg to the national grid on Dec. 30 of last year after replacing three steam generators, conducting comprehensive inspections, and refueling the reactor. A decision on extending the unit's operating license is expected this year. Koeberg Unit 1's operating license was renewed last year for another 20 years, to 2044. The Koeberg units, both pressurized water reactors, have operated since 1984 and 1985, respectively. Bheki Nxumalo, group executive for generation at Eskom, in a statement said, 'As South Africa phases out some of the aging coal-fired power plants by 2030, nuclear energy is poised to provide a reliable and stable baseload supply. Unlike intermittent renewable sources, nuclear power ensures continuous electricity generation, meeting the needs of both residential and industrial users. Its ability to produce carbon-free energy also supports South Africa's climate goals by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.' Edgar Moyo, minister of Zimbabwe's Energy and Power Development, said his country plans to increase its power generation capacity to at least 4 GW by 2035, up from the current 2.6 GW, although government data shows actual daily power generation is about half of capacity. Moyo said his country will collaborate with Russia on construction of small nuclear reactors. Moyo in late December told journalists at a meeting in Harare, Zimbabwe, that the IAEA 'have indicated their willingness to take us through paces until we get there.' Russia already has agreements to build nuclear power plants with Egypt, Nigeria, and Burkina Faso, in addition to South Africa. Russian nuclear energy state-owned company Rosatom and the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Zimbabwe in 2021 signed a memorandum of understanding to cooperate on nuclear energy. Economists and geopolitical analysts have said Russia wants to take a lead role in Africa's energy future to expand its influence on the continent. 'A reliable nuclear energy infrastructure could supply electricity to millions of people in rural or underserved areas,' said Irina Tsukerman, an adviser and foreign policy expert with Scarab Rising, a U.S.-based geopolitical research group. 'Many African countries still face significant gaps in electricity access, and nuclear power can help bridge that gap, particularly in countries with a growing urban population. Nuclear energy can provide a stable supply for expanding economies, ensuring industries and households have reliable power without frequent outages or blackouts, which are common in many parts of Africa.' Tsukerman told POWER, 'Right now, South Africa is the only country in Africa with a nuclear plant, although several more are being planned. In theory, introduction of nuclear power throughout the continent could be effective in addressing power shortages. That's because nuclear power has significant advantages over other forms of energy that could work well, including in developing countries.' Tsukerman said nuclear power would benefit Africa because it would provide 'reliable energy production' as well as 'large amounts of energy from relatively small amounts of fuel. For countries with limited land or resources, nuclear power can provide a reliable source of electricity without requiring vast areas of land, unlike solar or wind energy, which depend on large installations.' Gloria Magombo, Zimbabwe's secretary for energy and power development, during a December 2024 media briefing said that in addition to nuclear power, the country also wants to deploy more renewable energy resources apart from hydropower, which has been impacted by drought conditions. Magombo said, 'We are looking at coming in by 2030 with up to about 2,000 megawatts' from solar, wind, and hydropower resources. The country has a National Renewable Energy Program, though officials have said private investment along with public capital will be needed to support a build-out. A Renewable Energy Fund was launched in September of last year. The U.S. State Department in a report last year said, 'Debt significantly hinders Zimbabwe's economic growth and development,' noting the country 'owes over $9 billion [$7.0 billion of which is in arrears and penalties] to international financial institutions and bilateral creditors, equating to about 33% of the country's GDP [gross domestic product].' Dr. Lisa Marshall, president of the American Nuclear Society, and Dr. Sola Talabi, president of Pittsburgh Technical, a nuclear power consulting firm, told POWER that nuclear power would offer reliable baseload power for Zimbabwe and other African nations, and serve as a complement to other sources of energy while promoting foreign investment. The two noted that with 'population growth and socio-economic needs, what nuclear energy brings to the table is an energy course that can be coupled with district heating [providing higher efficiencies and better pollution control than localized boilers, for instance], as well as the potential of radioisotopes for medical diagnosis and treatment.' The two said that the World Bank Group categorizes Zimbabwe as a 'lower middle-income country with strong human and natural capital and significant growth potential. Building on its highly educated workforce, abundant natural resources, and recent advances in economic policy, together with key structural and institutional reforms, Zimbabwe could achieve steady and rapid growth and move towards an upper middle-income country status, which the Government of Zimbabwe has targeted for 2030.' They noted that the 'simplified and decentralized infrastructure of advanced reactors make them very attractive to emerging markets where large infrastructure deployment is very challenging. For example, a microreactor can be deployed within days, thereby providing immediate power.' Tsukerman agreed that nuclear power would be a way to attract foreign investment to Africa. 'Nuclear power projects, due to their size and complexity, can attract foreign investments, boosting economic development and infrastructure in the surrounding regions,' she said. 'Building and maintaining nuclear power plants requires skilled labor, including engineers, technicians, and construction workers. This can help boost local economies and create long-term employment.' Tsukerman also noted that nuclear power could help lower or even eliminate some African countries reliance on imported oil, natural gas, and coal for power generation. 'Nuclear power can help reduce this reliance, enhancing energy security and ensuring a more stable energy supply,' she said. Tsukerman also noted that 'Africa has significant uranium reserves, and mining it for nuclear power could provide a domestic source of fuel. Countries like Namibia, Niger, and South Africa have the potential to harness this resource.' Marshall and Talabi said there would be a connection between Zimbabwe's mining industry and its increased interest in nuclear power, saying that advanced reactors and microreactors have the potential to decarbonize the mining sector. They said that advanced reactors can provide reliable, low-carbon heat and electricity for mining operations, replacing traditional fossil fuel-based energy sources. This would help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support climate goals. The two also noted that many of the country's mining operations are located in remote areas where access to the grid is limited. They said that microreactors 'can be readily deployed in these off-grid locations to provide a stable power supply, reducing reliance on diesel generators.' Talabi and Marshall said that the country's 'mining sector is essential for the clean energy transition, as it supplies critical minerals like lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements needed for renewable energy technologies. Microreactors can enable sustainable and cost-effective mining of these minerals.' Whether U.S. companies, particularly those in the nuclear power space, would invest in Zimbabwe is questionable. The U.S. government ended its Zimbabwe Sanctions Program in March of last year, but continues to monitor individuals and companies under its Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, or GloMag, part of the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control. Officials in the U.S. and other countries, including the UK, have cited corruption, political instability, and the country's high levels of debt as reasons to be wary of investment. Tsukerman noted the economic issues in Zimbabwe and other African countries are also a factor. 'A downside of the U.S. reactors is that they tend to be more expensive than the Russian and Chinese technologies, they are limited in scale and size, and so more would need to be purchased to serve communities,' she said, noting the U.S. 'has yet to negotiate agreements with many of these countries, which in itself could be a monumental task given an anti-Western trend, particularly in West Africa, on the one hand, and the aggressive entry of other actors, such as Russia and China, on the other. Moreover, the U.S. has strict anti-corruption laws, which complicate bidding for tenders in countries with a different business culture, and many of the U.S. companies are reluctant to engage anywhere with an apparent high business risk.' India is another country working to make inroads in Africa. 'India currently is at the forefront of building thorium reactors,' said Tsukerman. 'According to plan, 30% of the Indian electricity in 2050 will be generated from thorium-based reactors. India is also a growing power throughout Africa, striving to compete with China and to expand its own geopolitical and economic reach. It has no shortage of workforce or engineers, and its work would be cheaper than U.S. or European implementation. However, so far India has not applied power plant outreach to its economic programs in Africa, and also struggles with modernizing its own business culture and implementation, focusing on exports of raw materials for the time being.' 2. Officials in Ghana, along with U.S.-based Regnum Technology Group, last year reached an agreement to deploy a NuScale VOYGR-12 small modular reactor in Ghana. Courtesy: NuScale Power There is some U.S. investment for nuclear technology in Africa. At the U.S.-Africa Nuclear Energy Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, last year, Nuclear Power Ghana and U.S. nuclear technology project developer Regnum Technology Group reached an agreement to deploy a single NuScale VOYGR-12 (Figure 2) small modular reactor (SMR) facility in Ghana. Their goal is to own and operate the continent's first commercial advanced light-water SMR plant. 'Of course, whether the Western powers decide to compete with the Russian and Chinese variants depends a lot on the terms they can negotiate,' said Tsukerman. She said that Japan, 'which is making slow headways in the more-developed African countries like Kenya, could be well-positioned to provide a viable alternative to Russia and China in the nuclear sector.' —Darrell Proctor is a senior editor for POWER.
