Photograph — modernghana.com

Yesterday at the ATOMEXPO 2016 International Forum in Moscow, the largest meeting of world leaders and experts on nuclear power, three African countries, Nigeria, Kenya and Zambia signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Russia on nuclear energy. Nigeria’s pact with Russia is to construct a centre for nuclear science and technology in the country.

The MoU read, “Agreement between the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Government of the Russian Federation on cooperation in the design, construction, operation, and decommissioning of the multipurpose research reactor complex on the territory of The Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

The agreement was signed by the Chairman and Chief Executive, Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission, Dr Erepano Osaisai, and Mr Sergey Kirienko, Director Russian Rosatom State Corporation. Both representatives of the two countries. “Nigeria does have other energy resources but we’re talking about a balanced and diversified energy basket and nuclear energy happens to be one that is considered”, Dr Osaisai noted after acknowledging that nuclear energy contributes a great deal to global electricity. He further stated, that establishing a nuclear centre will help conserve other energy resources.

As for Kenya and Zambia, their agreement with Russia is in the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. “Everybody today is going green, signing the MOU today will give us an opportunity, a window to interact more to know about what advantages are there,” said Hillary Ngondi Kyengo, Kenya’s ambassador to Russia.

Countries around the world are increasingly becoming interested in nuclear power because it is a way of diversifying their energy supplies while enhancing energy security. In the 70s, disruptions in the global supply of oil raised concerns about energy security and peaked debates on nuclear power. This resulted in the expansion of nuclear energy across countries like France and Japan.

However, with the present decline in the global production and supply of oil, countries are concerned about energy security once again. And for countries like Nigeria, diversifying its sources of energy will help cushion the fluctuations in oil prices. Nigeria’s power-generating capacity is currently low considering the significant drop in oil production which is as a result of continued attacks and disruptions on major oil facilities in the Niger Delta.

Speaking to Sahara Reporters, John Campbell, a Senior Fellow for Policy Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, said presently Nigeria has just one-thirtieth of the power generating capacity that South Africa has. He therefore advocates for the diversification of the sources of energy. Also, nuclear power is a clean source of energy, one that is environmentally friendly as it emits very little greenhouse gases. With increased global attention paid to pollution and the effects of climate change, nuclear energy is surely the way to go.

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