The Nation Newspaper

Tag: nuclear power

  • ‘Nigeria not serious about nuclear power’

    Nigeria is yet to record a remarkable success in nuclear energy production and further improve electricity supply, ROSATOM’s Head, Technical  and Infrastructure Department, Jose Bastos, said at the weekend  in Sochi, Russia at the 2019 Atomexpo International Conference/Exhibitions.

    The country produces less than 5,000 megawatts (Mw) of electricity, which are not enough to increase socio-economic activities nationwide. The Federal Government is exploring the nuclear energy option for growth.

    Bastos said Nigeria’s declaration of interest to produce nuclear energy is not matched with a reasonable level of commitment, adding that the country will with time sort out issues that are hindering it from becoming one of the producers of nuclear energy in the world.

    According to him, many countries, including Nigeria have approached ROSATOM to help in producing nuclear energy for their citizens, stressing that they were at different levels of investing in nuclear energy production in their countries.

    Bastos said: “There are three stages in participating in nuclear energy programme. The stages are known as phases, as evident by the desires of each country to engage in energy mix through production of nuclear power. The first stage is known as consideration stage, as its shows the intention of a country to generate nuclear energy for its people. The second stage is a stage where a big investment is made to generate nuclear energy while the third one is a stage in which nuclear power projects are implemented.”

    Countries in the first group, Bastos said, are showing readiness to go into nuclear energy priduction, but have many issues to contend with.

    He said one of the issues has to do with the national position on the provision of nuclear energy.

    He added that countries in the first stage are volatile, a development, which has made it difficult for those countries to carry along all the stakeholders that are involved in the generation, distribution and transmission of electricity to their people.

    Bastos noted that Nigeria falls  between the first and the second categories, going by the decision of the country to go into nuclear energy programme, coupled with its commitment to have two nuclear power cited in two out of its 36 states.

    The Federal Government had signed an aggrement with Moscow to generate nuclear power two years ago. The agreement is believed to be a mere paper work as no meaningful practical steps have been taken since then.

  • NAEC boss seeks legislative framework for nuclear power

    The new Chairman, Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC), Prof. Simon Malam, at the weekend promised to quickly pursue the enactment of a legislative and security framework for the development of nuclear power in the country.
    Speaking with reporters after taking over from his predecessor, Prof. Erepano Osaisai in Abuja, he said he intended to actualise the take-off of nuclear power development in the next one year.
    His words: “However, there is something very critical that we are trying to work on: the implementation of a nuclear power programme requires a clear-cut legislative frame work and a clear cut nuclear and security framework. These are things we intend to quickly push with their different stages of development to see if we can complete them in the next six months to one year.”
    According to him, under his watch, the commission would seek approval for the implementation of development plans with some partners, adding that he would continue with the development of human resource.
    He said: “The medium term strategy:We have already some project development agreement that we would lay the foundation for our partners to accept. We hope we will get that approved and implement it.
    “On manpower or human resources development, we need to quickly implement the capacity building programme of the commission this year.”
    The former chairman noted that his memorable moment was when the government gave nod for the nuclear power roadmap which the NAEC was still implementing.
    The approval, he said, had enabled Nigeria to develop capacity for nuclear energy development.
    He said people see the negative perception of nuclear energy and advised his successor to ensure that the commission communicates the benefits, dangers and other considerations of the technology to people.

  • Nuclear power not safe for Nigeria – Sen. Shehu Sani

    Nuclear power not safe for Nigeria – Sen. Shehu Sani

    Senator representing Kaduna Central senatorial district, Senator Shehu Sani has Tuesday criticize attempt by the Federal Government to invest in Nuclear power in the country saying it is not safe for the nation.

    Senator Sani who said 2 billion naira has been allocated for the construction of nuclear station in the 2016 budget, expressed fears that Nigeria as a country is not ready for the nuclear  power.

    Speaking while flagging-off distribution of Solar Power energy and transformers to Hundred communities within the Kaduna Central Senatorial zone, Senator Sani said instead the Federal Government should invest in renewal solar energy rather than nuclear power which he said comes with a lot of dangers.

    According to him, “Nuclear power station is not like what happens, when militants break pipelines and the next day it is repaired.

    “If we are to install nuclear station, we should know that it comes with a lot of consequences.

    “Nuclear station is not NNPC depot or pipeline, where you can damage it and fix it immediately and continue operations.

    He however warned, “We have seen the danger of nuclear power station in Japan and Russia, so, we must be very careful.”

    While emphasising that renewable energy is the future of energy, the lawmaker who is also, the Chairman Senate Committee on Foreign and Domestic Debts said Nigeria as a country must take the issue of power very seriously.

    He further stated, ” If we are serious about developing our country and serious about diversifying our economy, we must take the issue of electricity very seriously, understanding that without electricity ,we cannot develop and move to  the promise land of our dream.

    According to him, all industrialised nations of the world addressed the problem of electricity first, before other development issues.

    He recalled that in the last sixteen years, successive governments have spent over 25 billion dollars in the name of power generation and distribution and it has not solved the problem.

    He also stressed, “Even privatisation of electricity and distribution companies is still unable to address the problem . How long will our people continue to be in the dark?”

    ” Electricity distribution companies must live to the expectation of our people. If the essence of privatising generation and distribution is to improve service, it has not yielded results because, everyday, power distribution is moving from bad to worst.

    “We have seen ECN, NEPA PHCN and now have the GENCOS AND DISCOS, yet our people are in the dark. For how should this continue?

    While stressing that APC as the ruling party is committed to change, he said the elected leaders must be seen to be seriously committed to that ambition of change.

    Meanwhile, he said as an elected leader, he took it  as a responsibility to facilitate the provision of electricity  to 100 communities within the seven local government areas in his senatorial constituency .

    Explaining that it is not a project that is starting today, he said “In the last 8 months, we have been able successfully intervene in facilitating the provision of electricity to communities with the seven local government which I represent.

    ” Electricity is an indispensable source for socio-economic development of our society.  it an indispensible medium for the industrialisation of our country, we cannot build an economic and viable nation without providing power to our communities .”

    The lawmaker also lamented, “It is unfortunate that over 5 decades after independence, Nigeria is still hovering within 2 to 3 thousand megawatts of electricity.

    ” A nation like South Africa has electricity power generation of over 40 thousand megawatts, a coutry like Pakistan has over 60 thousand megawatts, we cannot achieve our, industrial, economic ambition without electricity.

    “Electricity is life, electricity is industry, electricity is commerce, electricity is humanity.

    “We have seen over the past few months how our power fortune has plummeted to certain level, even up to zero. This is serious issue that we must take very serious.

    “Our people have suffered enough and there is need for all hands to be on deck to get this issue of electricity right

    “As a senator representing Kaduna central, I consider it a personal duty and responsibility to do everything possible to intervene in giving support for the provision of electricity to our people.”

    He reiterated, “I have taken it upon myself to provide solar power to 100 communities within my constituency and I have started a pilot project by providing solar power for Saint Gerald’s Catholic Hospital, done over a month ago.”

    He further said, “I  have a request of over 320 transformers and this is not something a senator can do, but promised  to attempt to do it .

    “Our performance in office is not going to be scored by the social media, but the masses on ground, who bear the brunt of hardship.

    ” It is only the views of the masses that is most objective view about anybody in office.

    “This project is not new as I have provided transformers for several communities, but what is new is that I am introducing solar renewable aspect of energy to our communities.  I am now taking a journey towards librating my people from the blackmail of power generation and supply.

    ” By bringing power to my people, I am empowering my people.”

    However, he called on each elected representative of the people to tow the same line. Noting,” We would not be scored by what we say while in office, but what we do about education, agriculture, health, agriculture  and power generation .

    “But without power there will be no health, education, agriculture and others, which are very strong instrument for empowering the people,” Senator Shehu Sani added.

     

  • South Africa plans 9,600MW nuclear power

    South Africa is planning a proposal by the end of the month to add 9,600 megawatts of nuclear power to the national grid, a senior energy official said on Wednesday.

    Thabane Zulu, director general at the Department of Energy, told reporters in Cape Town that the discussions were ongoing with the Treasury about the costs of the plants.

    But analysts have estimated it could cost more than $100 billion.

  • IAEA, FG to work out legal framework for nuclear power

    The International Atomic Energy Council (IAEC), Deputy Director-General, Mr. Kwanu Aning, yesterday revealed that having got the assurance of the Federal Government of Nigeria for the development of nuclear power in the country, the next stage is to put the legal framework in place.

    His words: “There should be a legal framework that covers the use, liability , emergency  preparedness and ability to address God forbid if there is an incident. So, all of these things have to be in place. And then off-course, the actual development of the facility which is something you are going to be doing with vendors.”

    He led a delegation of the council to Abuja, where visited the Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, who assured him of the country’s readiness to adopt energy mix, including the nuclear power.

    Aning who had visited  Vice President Namadi Sambo and also took a tour to the  Nuclear Power Facility in Sheda, Abuja, noted that the council is working with the ministry and other relevant organizations to get set because of the complex undertaking for safety issue.

    Nebo however told the delegation in his office that it  is no longer acceptable for the nation to put all its eggs in one basket, insisting that Nigeria will need to correct and avoid in the future hiccups, occasioned by lack of gas to power plants.

    He said:  “We need coal, biomass, small hydros, solar even nuclear, if it is designed it is the best as it remained the cleanest and safest form of energy”.

    The minister also  told the delegation in his office  that with regard to implementation,the ministry has a national mandate superintend over the entire power supply in the country from generation to transmission to distribution.

    He explained that there will be a framework for the building, transferring of a nuclear power plant between Nigeria and its partners.

    The minister noted that whatever the case may be, there must be a bilateral agreement between the Federal Government and its partners for them to forge ahead.

    Nebo said that “And a special pool vehicle  will be established to make sure that it is done, built owned and transferred mechanism that could allowed the plant to be constructed in a way that Nigeria working with private enterprises and two countries  working together in Nigeria nation.

    “And whatever partner there will be a bilateral agreement to make us forge ahead. So we welcome you, and we are there to support our own atomic energy agency knowing that they play a significant role .”

  • IAEA, FG to work out legal framework for nuclear power

    IAEA, FG to work out legal framework for nuclear power

    The International Atomic Energy Council (IAEC) Deputy Director-General, Mr. Kwanu Aning, yesterday revealed that having got the assurance of the Federal Government of Nigeria for the development of nuclear power in the country, the next stage is to put the legal framework in place.

    His words: “There should be a legal framework that covers the use, liability and emergency  preparedness, among others. So, all of these things have to be in place. And then, of course, the actual development of the facility which is something you are going to be doing with vendors.”

    He led a delegation of the council to Abuja where he visited the Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, who assured him of the country’s readiness to adopt energy mix, including the nuclear power.

    Aning, who had visited  Vice President Namadi Sambo and  took a tour to the  Nuclear Power Facility in Sheda, Abuja, noted that the council is working with the ministry and other relevant organizations to get set because of the complex undertaking for safety issue.

    Nebo  told the delegation in his office that it  is no longer acceptable for the nation to put all its eggs in one basket, insisting that Nigeria will need to correct and avoid in the future hiccups occasioned by lack of gas to power plants.

    He said:  “We need coal, biomass, small hydros, solar, even nuclear, if it is designed it is the best as it remains the cleanest and safest form of energy”.

    The minister  told the delegation in his office  that with regard to implementation, the ministry has a national mandate to superintend over the entire power supply in the country from generation to transmission to distribution.

    He explained that there will be a framework for the building and transferring of a nuclear power plant between Nigeria and its partners.

    The minister noted that whatever the case may be, there must be a bilateral agreement between the Federal Government and its partners for them to forge ahead.

     

  • Railways, nuclear power on agenda of Li’s European visit

    Railways, nuclear power on agenda of Li’s European visit

    China will likely explore business opportunities in the high-speed railway, nuclear power and shipbuilding industries during Premier Li Keqiang’s upcoming visit to the United Kingdom and Greece, experts said.

    Li was scheduled to begin a six-day visit to the two countries on Monday – his third European trip since taking office last year– according to the Foreign Ministry.

    He is slated to meet British Prime Minister David Cameron at his London residence on a “reciprocal visit” following the British leader’s trip to China last year. Li will also meet Queen Elizabeth II. It will be the first visit to the UK by a Chinese premier in three years.

    Vice-Foreign Minister Wang Chao said talks with Cameron will cover trade, investment, energy and cultural exchanges.

    Ma Zhengang, former Chinese ambassador to the UK, said the visit is an indication that Sino-British relations are getting back on track after signs of recovery in ties last December when Cameron visited Beijing.

    Bilateral relations nosedived in 2012 when Cameron met the Dalai Lama, prompting China to cancel scheduled meetings with the UK.

    Tian Dewen, a researcher of European studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said he expects the visit will focus on economic cooperation.

    He identified the high-speed railway and nuclear power industries as two fields with high potential for cooperation.

    Ma said the UK’s relatively aging infrastructure presents great opportunities for Chinese investors and exporters.

    Bilateral trade exceeded $70 billion in 2013, a rise of 11 per cent year-on-year. That percentage far exceeds the 2.1-percent growth for overall trade between China and Europe.

    Zhao Junjie, an expert of European studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said China and Greece will likely discuss the port, aviation, tourism and trade industries.

    He said China’s advantages in the shipbuilding industry dovetail with Greece’s need to revive its traditional strength in sea transportation.

    Li and his Greek counterpart Antonis Samaras are expected to visit Piraeus port near Athens, part of which is operated by China’s State-owned shipping giant China Ocean Shipping (Group) Co under a 35-year-lease signed in 2009.

    It was the first time that a Chinese firm had been granted operating rights to an overseas port.