Acquire nuclear power, IAEA expert advises Africans

 

On July 1, 2011 · 

Abuja – Mr Ki-Sig Kan, an expert in the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), has advised African countries to acquire nuclear power to enable them attain full industrial growth.
Kan, who works in the Nuclear Power Division of IAEA, gave the advice on Friday in Abuja in an interview.
He said that for any country to construct a nuclear power plan and undertake the programme, it should have good infrastructure and human resources.

The IAEA expert said that if a country lacked the necessary facilities on ground, it could take between 20 year and 30 years to complete the project.
“This is because the country will need at least between 20 per cent and 30 per cent of its population to be involved in the management and execution of the programme.”
According to Kan, the nation will need to first carry out a feasibility study, followed by creating awareness and getting suppliers of the nuclear materials for the construction.
“Nuclear power plant takes 100 years of thinking and you think for the next generation as well before its implementation.
Kan, therefore, advised African countries to pursue nuclear power project only as an alternative source of energy considering what happened in Fukushima, Japan nuclear reactor accident.
He said that Fukushima nuclear reactor was designed in 1960 more than 50 years old and could not be compared with modern nuclear plants.
“The new nuclear plants are accurately designed, hence what happened in Fukushima Japan plant cannot happen to the newly designed plants.”
He said that energy from nuclear power was cheaper than energy from other sources of power, adding that with it, more technology and development would be attracted to the nation.
“Nuclear power ensures stability of power, encourages industries to thrive well leading to increase in the nation’s Gross Domestic Product.”
Kan, however, cautioned that the most challenging aspect of nuclear technology was its impact to the environment.
He, therefore, advised any country planning to undertake the project to be adequately prepared to protect the environment.
Kan, who did not give the cost of constructing a nuclear plant, said that it would depend on the size and how wealthy the nation was to carry out the project.

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