Nigeria, Russia renew commitment to build Africa’s second nuclear power plant

Nigeria, Russia renew commitment to build Africa’s second nuclear power plant

By Sulaimon Salau

The Federal Government and the Russia Nuclear Energy Corporation have concluded plans to build Africa’s second nuclear power station in Nigeria. The first one was built in South African Republic in 1984.

   The move to build the nuclear facility was nearly jeopardized by the anxiety that followed the unfortunate event of the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan that resulted into death of hundreds and damaged lots of properties.

 The nuclear plant, according to the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC) is estimated to generate at least 1000 mega watts (MW) of electricity and feed into the national grid by the 2019, and then ramp it up to 4000MW in another 10 years.

  The two parties arrived at this decision when Deputy Director General of Rosatom for international activities N.N. Spasskiy held consultations in Abuja with the Chairman of Nigerian commission for atomic energy F.Osaysaya.

  A statement by the Russia Nuclear Energy Corporation disclosed that the parties finalised discussion of the draft inter-governmental agreement on design, construction, operation and decommissioning of the first Nuclear Power Plant in Nigeria.  

  It added that currently the parties in accordance with their national legislations have started the necessary internal proceedings to present the draft for approval to the Government of the Russian Federation and Government of Federal Republic of Nigeria.

  Spasskiy also held meetings with Minister for Foreign Affairs O, Ashiry, Minister for science and technologies, in addition, he was received by Secretary to the Federal Government, Anyim Pius Anyim.

   According to the statement, the open discussion was held on the issues regarding different areas of cooperation between Russia and Nigeria in the area of peaceful usege of the atomic energy.

 “In particular, the issue of international cooperation between the countries in strengthening of international nuclear safety regime was discusses in details with respect to the lessons learned from Fukushima accident in Japan”, it added.

  Speaking on the development, Rosaton spokesman, Sergei Novikoy stated that the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan has forced some countries to denounce nuclear power. “However, this is far from becoming a tendency. Apart from the Koeberg nuclear power station outside Cape Town, Africa is almost pristine in terms of nuclear industry. However, there is a growing demand in nuclear energy in the continent”, he added.

  He explained: "Nuclear energy will remain in demand worldwide for it offers a nature-friendly source of energy to the developing countries. This also offers a platform for new technology, including new sources of energy. That is why more countries in Southeast Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa are seeking their national nuclear industries. And being the world`s third leading nuclear producers, Russia is ready to help these countries achieve their goal.

  "Russia and Nigeria have an intergovernmental agreement on the peaceful use of nuclear energy. A new bilateral document has been drafted to pave the way for the construction of Nigeria’s first nuclear power plant. The draft has been coordinated by experts from both sides, and now Rosatom and our Nigerian counterparts will send these documents to their governments for approval."

 The Minister of Science and Technology, Ita Oko-Bassey Ewa had recently expressed delay over the arrangemens. He said the power plant was first proposed in 2009 between the two countries; and that he disliked the fact that an agreement had not yet been reached since then.

  He, however, assured that “follow up meetings are now being initiated to discuss modalities for its implementation.”

   “A draft project implementation agreement has been prepared and ready for signing,” he added.

   Ita said that Nigerian needed to diversify its source of electricity and that the FG had set up the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission, NAEC, as a body to help achieve that objective.