Cape town: Africa's efforts to expand its nuclear power capabilities are encountering significant hurdles, despite growing interest and international partnerships.According to Deutsche Welle, the continent currently hosts only one nuclear power station at Koeberg near Cape Town, South Africa. However, several African nations are exploring nuclear energy as a means to address energy needs and reduce carbon emissions.Tristen Taylor, a South African journalist, analyzed the nuclear ambitions of African countries in a report published by the Cape Town office of Germany's Heinrich Böll Foundation. Taylor highlighted that countries like South Korea, China, and Russia view Africa as a potential growth market for nuclear technology. He noted that Egypt has made the most progress, with the Russian state atomic energy corporation Rosatom constructing a plant at el-Dabaa on Egypt's northern coast since 2022. However, Taylor expressed skepticism about the feasibility of nuclear projects in Sahel nations like Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, despite their agreements with Rosatom.South Africa's Koeberg power plant, the continent's only nuclear facility, has faced scrutiny from environmentalists such as Francesca de Gasparis of the Southern African Faith Communities Environment Institute (SAFCEI). Concerns have been raised about safety standards and maintenance by Eskom, the state-owned power utility. Critics argue that necessary upgrades and maintenance based on lessons from past nuclear disasters have not been implemented. Meanwhile, Eskom plans to build a larger 4,000-MW facility at nearby Duynefontein, a move criticized for its lack of transparency.In West Africa, Ghana is exploring nuclear power with potential suppliers from France, China, South Korea, Russia, and the United States. The nation is considering conventional power stations and Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), which are easier to manage and pose fewer safety risks. While SMRs could potentially lower the cost of nuclear energy, they remain in the prototype stage.Kenya has announced plans to construct a 2,000-MW nuclear plant in Siaya near Lake Victoria, with power production expected by 2034. However, the dissolution of Kenya's national nuclear authority, NuPEA, in early 2025 poses challenges. Kenyan environmentalist Phyllis Omido has called for comprehensive studies on the potential impact of the plant on local fishing communities and expressed concerns about the transportation of nuclear fuel.The handling of radioactive nuclear waste remains a pressing concern for nations pursuing nuclear energy. South Africa stores low- to medium-level waste in Vaalputs, but highly radioactive fuel is still housed at Koeberg. Plans for a final repository by 2065 face skepticism from activists like de Gasparis, who question the feasibility of managing high-level waste and caution against expanding nuclear power without long-term solutions.
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