Ghana agrees to get nuclear energy


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With the Ghana government seeking reliable sources of energy to supplement its power production, it has given its blessings to nuclear energy power, although this has been rejected by other sources as expensive and dangerous.

Dr. Benjamin Aggrey-Ntim, Minister of Communication, announced on Monday that cabinet has agreed that Ghana should have nuclear energy power plant by 2018 to produce 400 megawatts of electricity to supplement production from hydro and thermal sources.

He said fear, which was the result of ignorance, was the main reason for the delay in implementing nuclear power plant in Africa and urged the participants to engage in discussions on how to manage and provide security for a nuclear plant.

“This is the time for nuclear scientists to expose such things to allay peoples’ fear about nuclear power and its significance to the continent,” he added.

Serious power shortages have crippled businesses and disrupted normal domestic use following the steep drop in the level of the hydroelectric dam at Akosombo, about 90 kilometres north-east of Accra.

Dr Aggrey-Ntim, opening a one-week Regional Training Course for Trainers in the use of ICT Training Materials in Nuclear Analytical Techniques in Accra, charged nuclear scientists to collaborate with the government to make the project a success.

Fifteen African countries are participating in the course, being organized by the International Atomic Energy Agency and supported by the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC).

The course is aimed at training experienced professionals in effective use of ICT-based teaching materials for nuclear analytical techniques.

The participants would be responsible for teaching and training students and users of nuclear analytical techniques applied in environmental pollution monitoring , industry, agriculture, human health and geology.

Dr Aggrey-Ntim charged them to research into the comparative analysis between hydro power and nuclear power and the different skills needed to run a nuclear power plant. Panapress .

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