Ghana is set to select a company by December to build its first nuclear power plant, with contenders from the United States, Russia, China, France, and South Korea vying for the contract.
France’s EDF, U.S.-based NuScale Power and Regnum Technology Group, and China National Nuclear Corporation are in the running, Reuters reported.
South Korea’s Kepco, its subsidiary Korea Hydro Nuclear Power Corporation, and Russia’s ROSATOM are also competing, according to Robert Sogbadji, Deputy Director for Power in charge of Nuclear and Alternative Energy.
“Cabinet will approve the final choice. It can be one vendor or two nations; it will depend on the financial model and the technical details,” Sogbadji said.
Ghana initially began constructing a nuclear power plant in the 1960s, but the project was halted by a coup. The plan was revived in 2006 with help from the International Atomic Energy Agency, following a severe power crisis.
Ghana is among several West African nations exploring nuclear power to increase electricity access and reduce carbon emissions.
Burkina Faso and Uganda have signed agreements with Russia and China to build their first nuclear plants, while Kenya, Morocco, and Namibia are also working to incorporate nuclear energy.
South Africa, currently the only African nation with a nuclear power plant, plans to add 2,500 megawatts (MW) of nuclear power to alleviate power shortages.
Sogbadji stated that Ghana aims to add approximately 1,000 MW of nuclear power to its electricity mix by 2034.
Facing ongoing power outages, Ghana has an installed capacity of 5,454 MW, with 4,483 MW currently available, according to its energy regulator.
