The Deputy Energy Minister, William Owuraku Aidoo together with Japan’s Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, Ota Fusae has announced a strategic collaboration to support the deployment of Small Modular Reactor (SMR) technology in Ghana, considering the current state of technology neutrality of Ghana’s nuclear power program.

The collaboration took place at the International Atomic Energy Agency Nuclear Power Ministerial Conference in Washington, DC, under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Bonnie Jenkins and Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy, Kathryn Huff.

The collaboration to support the deployment of SMRs is subject to Ghana’s nuclear regulation and US export controls.  

In line with IAEA Milestones Approach for building a nuclear power program, the three countries are committed to upholding the highest standards of nuclear safety, security, and non-proliferation.

The announcement follows the October 6-7 visit to Ghana of Deputy Secretary of Energy, Turk and an interagency team, including the State Department, for consultations on enhancing cooperation on civil nuclear energy with the government of Ghana and its agencies including Nuclear Power Ghana and the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission. 

The countries in the trilateral cooperation recognize that the final decision on which technology to deploy in Ghana rest with the Government of Ghana.

Through these joint efforts, Ghana has the opportunity not only to demonstrate leadership in advancing energy security and climate action globally but also to establish itself as a regional centre of excellence in Africa for the deployment of innovative nuclear technologies.

As an initial step to support the deployment of SMRs and establish Ghana as a regional SMR hub, the government of Japan is supporting an SMR feasibility study to be carried out by Japanese and US industry — IHI Corp., JGC Corp., Regnum Technology Group, and NuScale Power in collaboration with government of Ghana through its agencies; Nuclear Power Ghana, Nuclear Regulatory Authority and the Nuclear Power Institute of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission.  

The study carries out a survey for the potential deployment of a NuScale VOYGR SMR nuclear power plant, including existing infrastructure assessments, as well as evaluating supply chain opportunities in the Ghanaian market.

The US is supporting a targeted Ghana SMR Workforce Development Initiative under the Foundational Infrastructure for the Responsible Use of SMR Technology capacity building program. 

Through trilateral efforts on workforce and supply chain development, Ghana will be well positioned to provide SMR project support in Ghana as well as the broader African region.