NIGERIA SEEK PARTNERS IN NUCLEAR ENERGY

NIGERIA SEEK PARTNERS IN NUCLEAR ENERGY

NIGERIA SEEK PARTNERS IN NUCLEAR ENERGY

THE Federal Government has begun a search for development partners to ensure the success of its plan to generate power from nuclear sources.

The Guardian learnt at the weekend that the required political will and finance are currently the biggest threats to the programme.

The Director General of the Nigerian Atomic Energy Commission, Dr. Erepamo Osaisai, said in Abuja at the weekend that the agency was implementing critical elements of the plan unveiled in December by building relevant manpower and the institutions required.

Speaking at the end of the technical working group meeting of the African Regional Cooperative Agreement for Research, Development and Training Related to Nuclear Science and Technology (AFRA) hosted in Abuja, he stressed: "The plan was approved last December and since then, we have been implementing elements of the programme by building required human capacity and building institutions. We are also developing institutions to support our quest for electricity through nuclear plans.

"Nigeria has all it takes to join the global renaissance for electricity generation. The successes of some 31 countries generating nuclear electricity are pointers to the fact that Nigeria could also seize this golden opportunity to utilise nuclear power to solve its electricity supply problems."

At the end of the AFRA meeting, stakeholders called on the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to continue to assist AFRA member states in their efforts to enhance self-reliance and sustainability of institutions using nuclear applications, in addition to the pilot member states which are currently undergoing this process.

The body is also seeking observer's status at the newly established African Commission for Nuclear Energy.

The statement noted: "As the African Commission for Nuclear Energy's mandate and functions include, in addition to non-proliferation issues, promoting international, regional and sub-regional cooperation programmes in the peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology, it is recommended that the AU Commission, the IAEA and AFRA join their efforts to develop a special programme for Africa in the peaceful applications in major areas such as energy, health, food and agriculture, and water to be supported by extra budgetary resources and to be implemented through partnership mechanisms by AFCONE , the IAEA and AFRA."

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