Ghana’s nuclear power project risks further delays as critical technical studies required for construction readiness remain unfunded, project officials have said.

The project is currently in Phase Two, described as the “construction readiness” stage, which requires major site-related technical studies before moving forward.

However, while operational and administrative budget from the Government, Volta River Authority, and Bui Power Authority existed to support the project, funding for key technical activities was not available, Dr Stephen Yamoah, the Executive Director, Nuclear Power Ghana, told the Ghana News Agency in an interview in Accra on Monday.

The two most urgent requirements, he said, were detailed site characterisation and environmental impact assessment, calling on the Government to intervene.

Dr Yamoah said the two were fundamental to completing the feasibility assessment and transitioning into construction of the nuclear power project.

“Without these, the project cannot progress beyond Phase Two. If we are unable to conduct the site characterisation and complete the key technical studies, we are not moving beyond Phase Two,” he indicated.

Dr Yamoah stressed the need for the procurement of environmental monitoring as well as oceanographic and marine equipment to collect site-specific data for plant design.

“However, procurement processes cannot begin without budgetary allocation,” he explained, adding that a detailed grid impact study was expected to be undertaken this year.

The grid impact study, he noted, would assess the capacity of Ghana’s transmission system, the required upgrades to transmission lines, construction of new substations and safety systems needed to accommodate nuclear power plant.

He recalled that same funding gap mirrored challenges experienced during Phase One (1), which was originally expected to be completed in 2017 but was finalised in 2019 after delayed government releases for key technical studies.

He cautioned that prolonged delays could lead to public disinterest, community frustration and political fatigue.

Stakeholder engagement efforts are ongoing, but officials caution that without visible progress, momentum could wane.

Already, Ghana has made political commitments to include nuclear power to its energy mix to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, mitigate climate change, and enhance energy security.

In 2021 and 2023 Ghana issued a request for information and a follow up to vendors to partner the country in its quest to embark on the nuclear power project.

The vendor selection followed a thorough process, starting with a review of 15 responses to the government’s call.

A technical team, guided by the Energy Ministry, shortlisted five before choosing the final two.

The plant will support industrialisation, compensate for declining hydro sources, lower tariffs for industries, and create jobs.

Ghana’s nuclear ambition, disrupted by a coup in the 1960s, was revived in 2008 and has since received International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) technical support.

It is among several African countries pursuing nuclear energy to tackle power challenges and drive economic growth.