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The option
of a nuclear power source
Kweku Asare takes up the debate:
As Ghana gropes in the dark for an energy miracle in
the face of dwindling water levels in the Akosombo dam,
there has been a call to take up nuclear power as a major
source of energy in the country. Cabinet is keen on the
matter and thinks that they can get the President’s ear on
the matter.
Accra, April 17, Ghanadot - As
would be expected in the light of the debilitating energy
crisis, government is taking concrete steps to ameliorate if
not reverse the situation which has
affected a large number of industries, including the
almighty Valco Aluminium Company (VALCO) which shut down
almost a month ago.
One of the initial steps was to embark on a power rationing
exercise, the importation of generator sets, power mix
distribution with neighbouring countries, increase in Volta
River Authority (VRA) capacity and a programme for the
inclusion of independent power producers. These steps are
aside the one to introduce bio-diesel from the jathropha
plant.
One of the suggestions that have come up in recent weeks is
for Ghana to seriously adopt nuclear power. Consequently a
special committee to explore the possibility of using
nuclear power to produce electrical energy has been set up
with Professor Daniel Adzei Bekoe as Chairman.
Mr Joseph Kofi Adda, Minister of Energy showed concern on
Tuesday when he said even though the committee had not been
given any specific time frame within which to work, it is
expected to come out with
recommendations as early as possible.
Mr Adda said based on the recommendation, government would
then take steps towards the establishment of a nuclear
plant.
"This is a long term project, which needs to be carefully
planned and not done in a rush. In the meantime, Government
is still working at solving the energy problem as well as
finding solutions to address the short and medium term
energy needs of the country."
He expressed the hope that the committee, chaired by
Professor Bekoe, Chairman of the Board of the Ghana Atomic
Energy Commission (GAEC), would come out early for
government to take a position on the issue, adding that a
lot of other alternatives such as wind and solar power uses
were also being explored in collaboration with private
entrepreneurs.
That the nuclear power idea is good is not to be
underestimated. But the fact that it has certain
ramifications in its applications is what is of great worry
to the large number of Ghanaians who are indeed getting
apprehensive over the matter.
The world has a number of nuclear plants. But the problems
they pose environmentally is most disturbing. The question
that arise is if Ghana, with a poor maintenance culture can
run a nuclear power plant?
Secondly, how prepared are we as a people even from the
industry point of view and also how profitable is this over
the other options, especially when they are not all being
given equal place?
What happened to the sun? What happened to the power of the
sun which shines almost 365 days in a year? I wish to humbly
submit that the option of going solar be rather given a
major thought.
The point is that all residential users could be put on
solar power and here the argument here has been that solar
panels have an initial huge cost that makes it unattractive
to users. But the truth is that, this cost could be spread
over a long period – say 6 months – during which time
experts can identify what it means for all, after which in a
short time could be paid and panels distributed to users all
over the country.
By this, a huge portion of electricity could be saved and
re-directed to other high end economic users such as
industry.
Government, for
now, may do its thinking through cabinet and
the appointed committee.
But if you should ask me, my opinion is that we have
gone beyond the thinking stage.
Kweku Asare, Accra, April 17, 2007, Ghanadot.com
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