The West African country of Guinea recently announced its intentions to begin talks with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) regarding the start up of a nuclear energy program. This announcement has come on the heels of the early August 2007 discovery of commercially viable uranium deposits near Firawa—located approximately 600 kilometers east of Conakry, the capital of Guinea.
On August 22, 2007, a spokesman for the Guinea government confirmed that talks would soon begin with representatives from IAEA regarding nuclear power development and that Guinea was also interested in pursuing the use of uranium in agriculture, medicine and other industries.
African Energy
The pursuit of nuclear energy will continue to increase across the African continent, as several other countries are also vying to enhance power infrastructure and increase energy capabilities. Currently, Africa is home to 16 percent of the world’s population, however generates just four percent of its electricity. (Source) Such a power supply deficit will have to be reduced before further energy development can be achieved.
While angst regarding nuclear power will be a concern for many countries in the region and across the globe, the need for viable and sustainable energy production in Africa will drive the current nuclear energy procurement trend.
Infrastructure Upgrades
Other African countries have also recently announced their intentions to expand or initiate new energy facilities, several with nuclear capabilities, to meet growing power demands. Currently, South Africa is the only African nation capable of producing nuclear power.
• On August 27, 2007, South Africa announced approval of plans to build an additional nuclear power plant in the Cape state, which is also site of one of the world’s largest producers of natural uranium ore. The IAEA had previously approved plans for this expansion in late 2006.
• Senegal President Abdoulaye Wade recently released statements indicating his interest in building a nuclear reactor in Senegal prior to the end of his presidency in 2012.
• In July 2007, Libya signed a nuclear cooperation accord with France; France also has an accord with Tunisia.
• In June 2007, Uganda President Yoweri Museveni told Group of Eight (G8) Summit leaders that nuclear energy was needed to meet increasing power demands across Africa. Uganda also recently discovered large uranium deposits within its borders.
• On June 9, 2007, Algeria signed a civilian nuclear cooperation agreement with the US. However, Algeria also signed a similar agreement in January 2007 with Russia.
• In a March 2007 visit to Namibia, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov offered to assist in building floating nuclear power plants off the coast of Namibia.
Demand Will Drive Production
The need for viable sources of sustainable energy in Africa is a very real problem. How best to meet these demands will continue to be debated. Concern over nuclear energy production, especially in countries not far removed from instability and war will continue to be a major factor in the ultimate development of such facilities. However, development in many African countries cannot be achieved without further investment into energy infrastructures. As such, nuclear energy production will be a growing commodity in the further development of African countries.
