Ghana Launches Sub-Saharan Africa's First SMR Centre

Key Figures & Findings: Ghana has established sub-Saharan Africa’s first NuScale Power Energy Exploration (E2) Centre at the Graduate School of Nuclear and Allied Sciences in Accra, signaling a significant leap in the region’s energy infrastructure. Funded by the U.S. Department of State’s FIRST programme, the facility aims to advance energy security and sustainability across Africa. U.S. Ambassador Virginia Palmer praised this collaboration, highlighting the potential of small modular reactors (SMRs) for tailored applications like power generation and industrial processes, alongside their robust safety features.

Insights: The centre houses a state-of-the-art NuScale 12-module SMR control room for hands-on training. It is part of a larger initiative involving curriculum development with Texas A&M University and a nuclear welding certification programme, further fostering local capacity building.

Future Implications: By 2025, the E2 Centre could emerge as a regional hub for workforce development, equipping Africa’s next generation of nuclear professionals.

Source: The BFT Online