Nuclear Power Seen as Alternative Clean Energy Source for Africa, Ex-Burkinabe PM Says
In this photo taken Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2012, South Africa’s Koeberg nuclear power station is seen on the outskirts of Cape Town, South Africa.
African Energy Week 2022 takes place on October 18-21 in Cape Town, South Africa, and focuses on uniting energy leaders and global investors for a dialogue about the future of the continent’s energy industry.Participants have discussed the development of energy resources in the region, including nuclear power, on the second day of African Energy Week 2022 on Wednesday.The former Prime Minister of Burkina Faso Lassina Zerbo said that Africa’s development is closely related to the increase in energy demand, and nuclear power is seen as an alternative of green energy for the continent.
“Many African countries are considering nuclear power as an alternative source of clean energy technology,” Zerbo pointed out. “The sustainable economic development of Africa relates to an increase in energy demand. This requires the rapid development of electricity grids and the exploitation of renewable and low-carbon energy resources to scale.”
Those present at the forum listened to the presentation by Sama Bilbao y Leon, director general of the World Nuclear Association, who dedicated her words to the future of nuclear power in Africa amid a period of big changes in the energy sector.
“We cannot afford to disregard any energy sources, we need all of them in different proportions and different mixes,” stated Bilbao y Leon, referring to Africa's energy poverty and the urgent need to tackle it amid the global energy crisis.
She further elaborated that nuclear energy is known to be the least harmful source, compared to other energy sources, in terms of carbon emissions, affecting clean air and water, land used for nuclear energy and its socioeconomic and biosphere impact.Speaking of the importance of developing nuclear energy in Africa, the Executive Chairman of African Metals Group C. Derek Campbell argued that “nuclear power is where Africa needs to go”.Campbell stated that nuclear power can “create enough baseload power, energy security, and jobs”. Additionally, he noted that the continent is able to “produce enough uranium and thorium for the whole world”.Previously, African leaders have repeatedly called for the development of all energy sources available on the continent. Africa has over 600 million people with no access to electricity and around 900 million with no access to clean cooking.
AfricaSudanese-British Magnate Ibrahim Blasts West’s Hypocrisy Over Green Agenda, Use of African Resources4 October, 12:26 GMT
OPEC Supports Africa’s Initiatives in Development of Own Energy Resources
At the forum, the need to invest in the development of African resources was mentioned repeatedly.
“When we talk about investments, Africa has an abundance of resources – not just oil and gas, but also minerals. The potential here is massive,” Haitham Al Ghais, OPEC secretary general stated. “On top of all of this, it has a young population who is thirsty for jobs and a better future… It’s time that Africa moves up to the next level.”
President of OPEC and minister of Hydrocarbons of the Republic of Congo, Bruno Jean-Richard Itoua, indicated that African countries aim to ensure energy market stability not only for themselves, but for the whole world.According to the African Energy Week’s press release, external factors, such as COVID-19 and the Russian military operation in Ukraine, created the conditions for increased cooperation between Africa and OPEC, with energy market stability being crucial for African oil producers, as their oil exports constitute a huge share to their GDP. In particular, OPEC played a key role for the two largest oil producers of sub-Saharan Africa, Angola and Nigeria, by conducting recent oil production cuts.As for investments in green energy sources, Linus Mofor, senior environmental affairs officer at UNECA, reminded that only a small share of clean energy investment reaches Africa.Meanwhile, a pilot for the Africa Energy Market Dashboard was kicked off by the African Energy Chamber and the United Nations Economic Commission on the second day of the forum.
“At COP 27, we will do the big launch of the dashboard to global stakeholders. Over the last ten years, of the over $300 billion in annual investments directed towards climate-friendly energy projects, less than 1.5% come into Africa and we want to change that,” he said. “We want to double Africa’s electrification capacity and to ensure that by 2050 we have the $2 trillion required in energy investments, African private sector investors need to come together and do the investments.”
Mofor indicated that African countries have “many climate and energy sector growth plans,” which can’t be implemented due to the lack of funds. In connection to this, he pledged that the Team Energy Africa, an informal coalition of investors keen on championing Africa’s energy transformation, will support investments from the private sector and get involved in commercial projects.
AfricaRussia Could Help South Africa Gain ‘Energy Mix’ as Relying on West Equals Recolonization, MP Says14 October, 19:07 GMTAnother topic that was discussed during the second day was Africa’s mineral resources and their relevance to continent-wide business potential.According to the official Africa Energy Week release, the abundance of strategic metals, critical minerals and rare earth elements can stimulate the development of its large and small mining industries, thereby strengthening overall economic competitiveness and lead Africa to “inclusive energy transition”.The African Energy Week takes place right after another similar event held in Moscow.During the Russian Energy Week last week, Sergey Gorkov, the head of geological exploration holding Rosgeo, said that his corporation is currently negotiating several oil and solid mineral contracts with African countries.Gorkov pointed out that despite the political situation, Rosgeo “has not reduced the scope of work with African countries” and new mutual projects are underway.Ambassador-at-large of the Russian Foreign Ministry Oleg Ozerov likewise said on the sidelines of the event that the Russian-African energy partnership will be among the key topics at the 2023 summit. In addition, Ozerov elaborated that Russia can be useful for Africa when it comes to building necessary energy equipment, such as oil refineries, and preparing qualified local staff.
