Ghana has chosen the United States and China as vendors for its first nuclear power plants, marking a significant step toward integrating nuclear energy into the country’s power mix. However, no formal contracts have been signed yet.
The U.S.-based NuScale Power and Regnum Technology Group, in collaboration with Japanese firms, will construct Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), while China National Nuclear Corporation will build a Large Reactor (LR).
The announcement was made by Dr. Stephen Yamoah, Executive Director of Nuclear Power Ghana, during a media engagement in Accra on Wednesday, March 26.
According to Dr. Yamoah, the LR will have a capacity of 1,200 megawatts, while the SMRs will consist of 12 modules, each generating 77 megawatts, for a total output of 924 megawatts.
The LR will 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 environmental and oceanic studies are currently underway 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 to drive national development.
He noted that Ghana’s energy mix is currently dominated by fossil fuels and hydro, with renewables contributing only one percent.
“We need to fast-track the adoption of nuclear power to secure our energy future,” he stated, stressing the importance of regulatory frameworks and skilled manpower.
The government aims to add one gigawatt of nuclear power to the national grid by 2034. The plant is expected to support industrialization, offset declining hydroelectric sources, lower electricity tariffs for industries, enable desalination, and create jobs.
The vendor selection process involved an initial pool of 16 companies, which was narrowed down to five before the final two were selected. Ghana’s nuclear energy ambitions date back to the 1960s but were disrupted by a coup.
The initiative was revived in 2006 with support from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Ghana now joins other African nations pursuing nuclear energy to address power challenges and drive economic growth.
