The Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN) has said that an energy demand
study, which it conducted in 2010, had projected that by 2020, Nigeria
would be generating 1,500 megawatts (MW) of electricity from nuclear
sources.
ECN’s Deputy Director/Head, Energy Linkages and
Research, Okon Ekpenyong, said this in Abuja during a presentation at a
recent inauguration of a media programme, the ‘Africa Starboard’ which
aims to promote positive conversation on the use of nuclear technology
in Nigeria.
Ekpenyong, who called for more diversification of the
country’s energy sources, said that gas-to-power may not be sustained
in operating the many thermal plants in the country.
He noted
that at seven per cent growth rate, which is in the 2010 energy study,
Nigeria should have attained 1,000MW this year if it had built the
nuclear plants that were planned.
He also urged foreign investors
to key into the incentives in the power industry, which include zero
per cent duty on equipment importation; five years tax holiday for
pioneer status firms; and a cost-reflective feed-in tariff for
alternative energy as developed by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory
Commission (NERC).
The Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC)
had in June said that it would partner with a Russian firm to build
nuclear power plants of over 4,000MW capacity by 2025.
NAEC also listed Geregu in Kogi State, and Itu in Akwa Ibom State as the selected sites to host the pioneer nuclear plants.
Already, reports indicate that about 11 per cent of the world’s electricity supply is from nuclear sources.
Apart from energy, the technology is also said to enhance works in medicine; agriculture; and water resources.
However,
Nigeria nuclear plans are coming after South Africa is already
generating significant electricity with nuclear technology. Algeria,
Morocco, Sudan, Ghana and Kenya also have plans for varied capacities.
Meanwhile,
the promoter of Africa Starboard which seeks to enlighten Nigerians on
use of nuclear technology, Mrs. Unekwu-Ojo Achile said at the flag-off
that many Nigerians are sceptical about the government’s announced plans
for nuclear.
“They feared for their lives, livelihood,
environment and future - a clear indication that the word nuclear has a
negative connotation which is not supposed to be.”
“On this
Starboard, we shall advocate, educate, mediate, consult and engage every
partner towards advancing the positive use of nuclear technology in
Africa.
“To many, the word nuclear’ makes people scared but we
want to talk to people and make them understand that nuclear technology
is powerful and can bring about positive transformation,” she said.
“Once
we have it, the problems we have about epileptic power supply will be
reduced. That is why we want to make the public understand that with the
addition of nuclear power technology, there will be more empowerment,”
she added.
While speaking about the cost of nuclear energy
projects, Achile said that there are international organisations and
banks willing to finance nuclear projects in Nigeria.
“It is not
a project that the country can run by itself especially in financing;
but there are international banks willing to finance,” she added.
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