On Nigeria’s nuclear power roadmap

This is hoping that this write up might give guide especially looking into political and economic benefits and implication of paradigm perspectives for Nigeria as far as the global inter-play on nuclear programme. We have to critically look into the need or otherwise on the generating electricity energy via nuclear technology programme in Nigeria. The […]

This is hoping that this write up might give guide especially looking into political and economic benefits and implication of paradigm perspectives for Nigeria as far as the global inter-play on nuclear programme.

We have to critically look into the need or otherwise on the generating electricity energy via nuclear technology programme in Nigeria. The most important aspects are the issues of safety and security of the system.

There are some emerging nations that have had enough and surplus of electricity power energy and they generates not via nuclear programme. Countries such as Brazil generates 114,000mgw and S/Arabia with about 60,000mgw, Ghana with over 10,000mgw and Iran with about 60,000mgw and many more emerging nations generates their electricity energy via other sources and not necessarily via nuclear technology programme. The question is that; can Nigeria and Nigerians operates and handle the safety of nuclear technology programme to generate electricity power energy in the locations to be mentioned below in this writing?

Research indicates that the initial attempt  to  implement  a  National  Nuclear  Power  Programme  in Nigeria was started in 1976 by the enactment of the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC) Act 46. The law was promulgated as a Military Decree by the then Supreme Military Council headed by General Olusegun Obasanjo as Military Head of State in August 1976. As  with  all the  military  decrees,  enactment  of  the  law  at  the  time  did  not receive  broad  public  participation  in  its  formulation.  Enactment of the Law was aimed at diversifying the electricity generation base.

Consequently, a firm, Messrs Motor Columbus was contracted to conduct a feasibility studies on the deployment of Nuclear Power Plants (NPP) in Nigeria for electricity generation and the report was submitted in 1978.

Also, for the purpose of manpower training and capacity building, two nuclear energy research centers were created and domiciled in two national universities at Ife and Zaria. Except  for  some  manpower  training  activities  at  the  two  centers,  nothing  much happened as NAEC was not activated by the Military Government at the time of its disengagement from power in 1979.

National  interest  in  Nuclear  Energy  development  was  rekindled  through  an assessment  done  in  April  2004  by  an  Inter-Ministerial  Committee  on  the National  Energy  Resources: Committee  quantified  all  the  major  energy resources in the country.

Consequently, an Inter-Ministerial Committee on NPP was inaugurated and a Technical   Committee   on   NPP   mandated   to   evaluate   the   feasibility   of deploying NPP in June 2005. NAEC was activated in July   2006 and reconstituted as a   full-fledged Commission in March 2011; formally inaugurated on September 15, 2011 National   Nuclear   Power   Roadmap and a   preliminary   Strategy for its implementation were approved and  adopted  by  the Federal Government  for implementation in February,2007.

The  Nigeria  Atomic  Energy  Commission  (NAEC), mandated  as national   focal   institution   for   atomic   energy   development   in Nigeria; six    nuclear    energy    research    centres    operate    under    the supervision of NAEC; involved in manpower training and capacity building.

The   Nigerian   Nuclear   Regulatory   Authority   (NNRA) is the national   nuclear   regulator; established   by   Act 19 of   1995 became operational in 2001. Empowered to license and regulate the  operations  of  the  nuclear  power  industry  and  the  use  of radioactive   sources;   has   a   national   institute   for   radiation protection and research which is involved in manpower training.

Harmonization  of  the  input  of  the  many  relevant  stakeholder institutions     is     coordinated     through     the     Nuclear     Energy Programme Implementation Committee (NEPIC);

The Programme  is  also  implemented  with  the  requisite  international cooperation  and  support,  particularly the support  of  the AEA and other partners, ensuring safety and security.

At  the  inauguration  of  the  NAEC  on  July  31,  2006,  it  was charged   with   the   responsibility   to  develop   a   National   Nuclear  Power Roadmap  which  would  position  the  country  to  generate  electricity  from NPPs in 10 to 12 years;

The  Roadmap  has  since  been  developed  based  on  the  fundamentals  of starting  an  NPP  Programme  as  shown  in  Figure  2.1  and  formal  FEC approval was given in February of 2007;

The   technical   framework   is   a   three-phase   plan   which   is   aimed   at positioning  Nigeria  to  generate  electricity  from  NPPs  in  10  to  12  years with considerable national participation.

One very challenging characteristic of Nuclear Power Development in a newcomer  country  is  long-term  national  (political)  commitment  and sustainability of the programme   over a gestation period of at least 20 years.

Overcoming  this  challenge  requires  that  there  should  be  a  broad- based acceptance of the programme by the citizenry;

The evolution of a national position to introduce nuclear power should therefore properly reflect the true national mood;

Nigeria’s  decision  to  implement  its  nascent  nuclear  power  programme had benefitted from a broad based national support.

Consequently, the national strategy for its implementation also reflects broad-based stakeholder participation.

Sustainability of the national nuclear power development is centred on broad-based national acceptance  of  the  programme,  and  all  facets  of the society are being sensitized to play important roles in the long-term national   commitment   to   NPP   development, while maintaining   the confidence of other international partners. Currently, Government’s commitment for the NPP programme is demonstrated   by   its   continuous   funding   of   the   NPI   development activities  which  is  aimed  at  creating  the  requisite  enabling  environment for the successful implementation of the programme in partnership with the private sector and international partners.

An effective human resources development programme has been put in place   to   cater   to   the   short-term   needs,   as well   as   the   long-term sustainability of the national NP programme;

The  industrial  and  other  relevant  sectors  of  the  economy  are  being constructively    engaged    and    encouraged    to participate    in    the programme.

An  enabling  business  environment  is  being  created  to  encourage  the participation  of  reliable  power  reactor  vendors  and  experienced  NPP utilities in the long-term in Nigeria’s NPP programme;

So, any developing nation must think twice before to decide on the policy on generating power electricity energy via nuclear technology sources for the fear of insecurity (insecurity is now measured by hours in every parts of the world especially emerging nation like Nigeria.

Abbati Bako, is a political strategy and policy consultant, IPRC.