Godknows Igali, Ministry of Power, and Erepamo Osaisai, National Atomic Energy Commission, disclosed the year when the first nuclear plant will be constructed by National Atomic Energy Commission to be ready.
According to them, the nuclear power plant will be built in 2026.
Osaisai disclosed that the first nuclear power plant will have the capacity to produce 1,000MW, which will be expanded to 4,000MW within 10 years of the establishment of the plant.
Erepamo Osaisai noted that the need for safety and security of power infrastructure could not be sacrificed at the altar of expediency even though the nation required urgent solution to its power crisis.
Osaisai announced: “Planning and implementing a nuclear power programme takes time. When you consider the national situation where we need significant amount of generation, the timeframe for implementing a nuclear power programme may appear like eternity but the key issue is that implementing a nuclear power programme comes with a large number of obligations.Nigeria is committed to ensuring that we are able to maintain a strict regime of safety, security and safeguard. That requires emplacement of key infrastructure. It takes time to develop it on the order of about 10 to 15 years even for very developed countries.So, it may appear that we have been doing it for a long time but we have just been meticulous, wanting to ensure that we are able to do it right. That is why it appears to be taking time but it has to be done right.”
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry Of Petroleum Resources, Taye Haruna adds that the use of radiation sources in different fields of practice in Nigeria is steadily growing and despite safety precautions in design and operations accidents involving radiation sources do occur, hence the need for the review.
Taye Haruna said: “Nigeria has been identified by the International Atomic Energy agency as a high priority country requiring significant agency’s input to be able to cope with any radiological or nuclear emergency. However, there should be a concomitant political will by the government of Nigeria to develop its capabilities to respond to any radiological or nuclear emergency and adequate preparedness for an emergency can substantially improve the response.Due to socio-economic development in Nigeria there has been widespread use of radiation sources in medicine, industry and research and teaching. There is no doubt that Nigeria is one of the largest users of radiation sources in sub-Saharan Africa”.
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