Ghana has made significant strides in its nuclear power ambitions, selecting the United States and China as vendors for its first nuclear power plants. This move marks a crucial milestone in the country’s efforts to diversify its energy mix and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

According to Dr. Stephen Yamoah, Executive Director of Nuclear Power Ghana, the U.S.-based NuScale Power and Regnum Technology Group, in partnership with Japanese firms, will construct Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). Meanwhile, China National Nuclear Corporation will build a Large Reactor (LR) with a capacity of 1,200 megawatts. The SMRs will comprise 12 modules, each generating 77 megawatts, totaling 924 megawatts.

The project will be financed through a combination of financial models, including Build, Operate, and Transfer (BOT) with local equity participation for the LR, and Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) for the SMRs. Ghana has signed a framework agreement with the vendors and is currently gathering environmental and oceanic data to determine the plant’s location.

The adoption of nuclear power is expected to bring numerous benefits, including reducing reliance on fossil fuels, mitigating climate change, and enhancing 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 sources, lower tariffs for industries, enable desalination, and create jobs.

Ghana’s nuclear ambition has been years in the making, with the country reviving its nuclear program in 2006 with support from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Ghana is among several African nations pursuing nuclear energy to tackle power challenges and drive economic growth.