Set back an estimated 10 years of hard-fought development by the pandemic, African countries are determined to quickly reverse course and resume growth. One item high on the list is nuclear power. A new report by the (anti-development) African Climate Reality Project counted a total of 17 African countries (out of 54) have expressed interest in nuclear power for electricity.
In South Africa, the only country to have a (functioning) nuclear plant, the very pro-nuclear Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe made a proposal last year that the country look into gaining an additional 2.5 GW of nuclear power (twice that of the Koberg plant), coming from — not yet existing — small modular reactors. Last week, Mantashe’s bold proposal was approved by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa.
An article on that proposal in the South African news site, Independent Online, this morning, featured Dr. Kelvin Kemm, now a regular guest on Schiller Institute development forums. Titled “Africa Waiting on S.A.’s Nuclear Technology,” it quoted him: “A lot of African countries are looking to get these small nuclear reactors. South Africa has the resources and personnel to build up this industry. South Africa is a world leader.” https://www.iol.co.za/business-report/companies/africa-waiting-on-sas-nuclear-technology-a2ce6657-61fe-416f-a3c7-cc524eacf79e
Dr. Kemm was also a guest on Ethiopian television Aug. 25, appearing on the “Future Africa” show on Oromio Broadcasting Network. The only guest, he was able to essentially give a class on nuclear power, for over 45 minutes. The program was then written up by the African Agenda site, giving it an even wider audience. http://africanagenda.net/africas-future-depends-on-adopting-nuclear-power-generation
