Ghana has chosen the United States and China as vendors for its first nuclear power plants, though no formal contract has yet been signed. U.S.-based NuScale Power and Regnum Technology Group, in partnership with Japanese firms, will build Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), while China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) will construct a Large Reactor (LR).
Dr. Stephen Yamoah, Executive Director of Nuclear Power Ghana, shared the update with the Ghana News Agency during a media engagement in Accra on Wednesday.
He explained that the LR will have a capacity of 1,200 megawatts, while the SMRs will consist of 12 modules, each generating 77 megawatts, totaling 924 megawatts.
Dr. Yamoah also noted that the LR project would follow a Build, Operate, and Transfer (BOT) financial model with local equity participation, while the SMRs will be financed through Public-Private Partnerships (PPP).
Ghana has signed a framework agreement with the vendors, and experts are gathering environmental and oceanic data to determine the plant’s location.
Mr. Archibold Buah-Kwofi, Acting Director of the Nuclear Power Institute, emphasized the need for stable and affordable electricity for national development.
He highlighted that Ghana’s energy mix currently relies heavily on fossil fuels and hydro, with renewables contributing just one percent.
“We need to fast-track the adoption of nuclear power to secure our energy future,” he said, stressing the importance of strong regulatory frameworks and skilled manpower.
The introduction of nuclear power is expected to reduce Ghana’s reliance on fossil fuels, help mitigate climate change, and enhance energy security.
The government plans to integrate one gigawatt of nuclear power into the grid by 2034, which will support industrialization, compensate for declining hydro resources, lower tariffs for industries, enable desalination, and create jobs.
The selection process for the vendors followed a thorough evaluation, beginning with 16 responses to the government’s call. A technical team, guided by the Energy Ministry, shortlisted five vendors before choosing the final two.
Ghana’s nuclear energy ambition, initially disrupted by a coup in the 1960s, was revived in 2006 with support from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Ghana is among several African countries pursuing nuclear energy to address power challenges and foster economic growth.
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