In the quest for sustainable energy solutions, Ghana finds itself at the crossroads of innovation and necessity. The West African nation is exploring a unique avenue for addressing its energy needs – floating nuclear power plants. This bold move comes against the backdrop of limited land availability and a surging demand for energy.
“Floating nuclear plants offer a flexible and scalable model for countries like Ghana,”
remarked Dr Robert Sogbadji, Deputy Director of Nuclear and Alternative Energy at the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition. Speaking at the Enlit Africa 2025 conference in Cape Town, South Africa, he emphasized how this technology aligns with existing infrastructure like the Karpowership, a floating gas power plant integrated into Ghana’s national grid.
Ghana’s tryst with nuclear energy dates back to the 1960s when it first ventured into nuclear power exploration in collaboration with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Despite early ambitions, progress was hindered by political factors. It wasn’t until 1994 that a modest 2MW research reactor was commissioned to support training and research initiatives.
The resurgence of Ghana’s nuclear ambitions in the early 2000s stemmed from severe power crises experienced by the country. Subsequently, nuclear energy found its place in Ghana’s national energy policy and transition framework. What sets this new phase apart is not just political will but also bipartisan support and an extensive public engagement campaign aimed at demystifying nuclear energy among citizens and policymakers.
To pave the way for this transformative journey, Ghana has established key institutional frameworks such as a Nuclear Regulatory Authority under the auspices of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, Nuclear Power Ghana as the designated owner-operator of future plants, and a Nuclear Power Programme Organisation entrusted with implementation oversight.
As Dr Sogbadji highlighted, initial considerations revolved around large-scale nuclear reactors; however, evolving global trends have steered attention towards small modular reactors (SMRs) as well as floating nuclear technology due to their inherent advantages:
– Minimal site preparation requirements
– Expedited deployment timelines
– Cost-effectiveness, crucial for lower-middle-income economies
– Seamless integration into existing grids
Navigating financing challenges remains paramount on Ghana’s agenda. While public acceptance appears favorable given Sub-Saharan Africa’s pressing need for reliable and affordable electricity sources, securing suitable financial models such as build-own-operate-transfer (BOOT) agreements akin to Turkey’s Akkuyu plant could be instrumental in driving these projects forward.
Through fact-finding missions to Russia to inspect Rosatom’s floating nuclear units like the Akademik Lomonosov – currently powering remote Arctic regions – Ghana aims to tailor this technology to suit its coastal landscape or other infrastructure-constrained areas within its borders. This strategic maneuvering underscores not just an energy solution but also a pathway towards holistic development encompassing security and resilience.
Looking ahead, Ghana envisions constructing its first nuclear plant by 2027 as part of its comprehensive $562 billion investment plan to achieve ambitious energy transition goals by 2070. By charting this course towards embracing floating nuclear power innovations rooted in local context yet shaped by global best practices, Ghana emerges as a torchbearer showing how African nations can navigate decentralized futures amidst climate imperatives.
