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Ghana’s Nuclear Power Programme

Overview , Phases of a Nuclear Power Programme, Status of Ghana’s Nuclear Power Programme, Ghana's Nuclear Journey, International Cooperation, The Role of NRA

Overview

Ghana has re-established her desire to use nuclear technology to generate electricity as part of her current energy mix.

The Ghana Nuclear Power Programme Organisation (GNPPO), made up of other governmental agencies, private companies, academia and these three key organisations: Nuclear Regulatory Authority (Regulator), Nuclear Power Ghana (Owner-Operator) and the Nuclear Power Institute (Technical Know-how and Support) is the technical workforce and advisory body in charge of the coordination for the nuclear power programme. GNPPO is chaired by the Ministry of Energy.

At the Nuclear Regulatory Authority, the directorate actively involved in the activities of the GNPPO is the Nuclear Installations Directorate.

GNPPO structure for Phase 1 in relation to the work of the NRA

The Role of the NRA in Ghana’s Nuclear Power Programme

The NRA was established to regulate the civilian use of radiation in the country thus its role as the nuclear regulator is to assure the public that it is competent enough to ensure that all nuclear and radiological activities are being regulated in a safe and secure manner to ensure that the public is safe.

To this end, the Authority is building competencies for regulating the nuclear power which is commensurate with the stage of the project and the future.

Preparations so far include:

Setting up the regulatory infrastructure
Drafting of the relevant regulations, guides and documents
Actively participating in the activities of the GNPPO as the regulator
Receiving support from European Commission and other regulatory bodies to enhance its regulatory infrastructure and competencies.

Phases Of a Nuclear Power Programme

There are three distinct phases in the introduction of a nuclear power programme into a country:

Phase 1: Considerations before a decision to launch a nuclear power programme is launched

Phase 2: Preparatory work for the construction of a nuclear power plant after a policy decision has been taken;

Phase 3: Activities to implement the first nuclear power plant.

Status of Ghana’s Nuclear Power Programme

Ghana has officially transitioned into Phase 2 of her Nuclear Power Programme with the President H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo making the official declaration on 31 August 2022.
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This comes two years after the Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review (INIR) Mission and a Follow-up INIR mission in January 2017 and October 2019 respectively.
An INIR Mission is an all-inclusive peer review by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to assist member states in assessing the status of their national infrastructure for the introduction of nuclear power.

GHANA'S NUCLEAR JOURNEY
Ghana’s emerging nuclear power programme is as a result of steady progress made under successive governments and dates as far back as the early 1960’s, when the first president of the country, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah started the Kwabenya Nuclear Reactor Project.

The Kwabenya Nuclear Reactor Project was established to introduce nuclear science and technology into the country and to exploit nuclear energy in its peaceful applications right after the development of the Akosombo dam for hydro power.

Dr. Nkrumah saw nuclear power as an energy source that would contribute significantly to the energy security which is much needed for rapid industrialisation for both the country and the continent as a whole. This eventually initiated Ghana’s nuclear power agenda.

After his overthrow, the nuclear power agenda came to a halt and was only revisited during the electricity power crises of the 2000’s.

The administrations of John Agyekum Kufuor (2001-2009), John Evans Atta Mills (2009-2012), John Dramani Mahama (2012-2017) and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo (2017 – date) have built on the progress made under Jerry John Rawlings’ second rule (1981-2001) in further contributing to policy development, human resource development through the Graduate School of Nuclear & Allied Sciences (SNAS), legislation and regulation of the nuclear industry in the country.

NRA's Time Bar

2015:
-IAEA experts visited Ghana to develop a better understanding of the direction of the programme, after obtaining mixed signals as to the direction of the country in regards to the nuclear power development.
-Nuclear Regulatory Authority Act 2015 (Act 895) for the establishment of an effective independent regulatory body was passed.
-Ghana applies for IAEA Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review (INIR) Mission for Phase 1 of the nuclear power programme development.

2016:
-Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NRA) formally established and staffed
-NRA participates in Phase 1 INIR Mission Self-Evaluation Report.

2017:
-IAEA Phase 1 INIR Mission conducted
-IAEA submits INIR Mission report to Government of Ghana

2018:
NRA participates in the Follow-up INIR Mission conducted.

2019:
Signing of the Instrument for Nuclear Safety Cooperation (INSC) 2018 Programme, Ghana Contract to support the Authority for enhancing the regulatory infrastructure and building competencies of staff for the regulatory oversight for Ghana’s Nuclear Power Programme.

2020-2022:
Implementation of the INSC Project Support to the Nuclear Regulatory Authority which has been extended to support activities related to Small Modular Reactors (SMRs).

International Cooperation

Ongoing support and training through Ghana’s membership of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

Memberships

Member, Forum for Regulatory Bodies in Africa (FNRBA)
Member, Regulatory Cooperation Forum since June 2017

MoUs

Arrangement for Technical Information Exchange and Cooperation in Nuclear Safety Matters signed with US NRC in September 2017.
Assistance from the US DOE in the areas of Nuclear Security (INS, ORS, NSDD) and Safeguards (INSEP)
Assistance from the European Commission’s INSC support with ENCO as Lead Consortium; Project 60; and benefitting from ENEN and DEVCO Training & Tutoring Programmes
MoU with Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) for support signed in September 2019
MoU with Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority (PNRA) signed in December 2021

IAEA 19 Infrastructure Issues: Development of an Infrastructure for a National Nuclear Power Programme

The 19 infrastructure issues for developing an infrastructure for a national nuclear programme are:

National Position
Nuclear Safety
Management
Funding and financing
Legal framework
Safeguards
Regulatory framework
Radiation protection
Electric grid
Human resource development

Stakeholder involvement
Site and supporting facilities
Environmental protection
Emergency planning
Nuclear security
Nuclear fuel cycle
Radioactive waste management
Industrial involvement
Procurement