U.S. Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for
International Security and Nonproliferation Ann Ganzer joined Ghanaian
counterparts to announce further U.S. support for establishing Ghana as a
Small Modular Nuclear Reactor (SMR) Regional Training Hub and center of
excellence for the sub-Saharan African region.
The $1.75 million in
funding will support Ghana’s nuclear workforce development, including the
provision of an SMR control room simulator, university partnerships, and
academic exchanges to position Ghana to serve as a regional training hub for
nuclear power technicians and operators. Through this partnership, Ghana
will be positioned to develop a skilled nuclear workforce for the region
consistent with the highest international standards of nuclear safety,
security, and nonproliferation.
“This new commitment will support Ghana in establishing a
Small Modular Reactor Regional Training Hub and center of excellence for the
sub-Saharan African region. With this support, Ghana will be positioned
to develop a skilled nuclear workforce for the country and the region
consistent with the highest international standards of nuclear safety,
security, and nonproliferation. This partnership will assist Ghana and
other like-minded countries in the region in moving towards clean, affordable,
safe, and secure energy sources,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Ganzer.
This project is supported by the Foundational Infrastructure
for Responsible Use of Small Modular Reactor Technology (FIRST) capacity
building program, in which Ghana has participated since 2022. FIRST
supports Ghana’s leadership in the region on moving towards SMR deployment,
consistent with the highest international standards for security, safety, and
nonproliferation, and its development of a skilled nuclear workforce to achieve
decarbonization and energy security goals.
Earlier this year, the U.S.
Department of State, Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation
hosted a high-level delegation from Ghana and Kenya to visit U.S. national
laboratories and operating nuclear power plants to strengthen our partnerships,
with support by the FIRST Program. Both Kenya and Ghana have been outstanding
FIRST program partners in the sub-Saharan African region and continue to
receive support in the form of training, technical collaboration, and
capacity-building activities.
This announcement is another step in the U.S. commitment to
deepen U.S.-Ghana civil nuclear cooperation and support Ghana’s goal of being a
first mover in Africa, as announced (link) at the 2022 International Atomic
Energy Agency Nuclear Power Ministerial Conference in Washington. U.S.
support to Ghana includes technical assistance, professional training
exchanges, and regulatory framework collaboration.
The United States is committed to supporting the use of
innovative clean energy technologies to power global decarbonization efforts
and providing options to achieve net zero transition in hard-to-abate energy
sectors.
By:
Kanto Okanta
