Specialist skills needed for nuclear power plants

At least 13 African countries are planning to join South Africa as operators of nuclear plants. Egypt has one under construction, while Ghana, Uganda, Morocco, Kenya, Algeria, Nigeria, Rwanda, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Togo and Zimbabwe are in the planning stage. A Tunisian project is stalled. Specialised project cargo services are required from the start of construction through to the disposal of spent radioactive fuel. “Most major components for a nuclear power plant are manufactured overseas and imported by sea, and many of these components are abnormally large in comparison to normal road freight,” states the Eskom public information document for the mothballed Thyspunt nuclear project in the Eastern Cape. Funding is being made available. The World Bank and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have signed an agreement to work together to support the safe, secure and responsible use of nuclear energy in developing countries. “The agreement reflects a broader approach by the World Bank Group to electrification – one that prioritises accessibility, affordability, and reliability, while managing emissions responsibly,” according to a joint statement issued at the signing ceremony. “With electricity demand in developing countries expected to more than double by 2035, this approach aims to help countries deliver the energy people need by enabling pathways that best fit their national context, including development objectives,” it adds. “Jobs need electricity. So do factories, hospitals, schools, and water systems. And as demand surges, we must help countries deliver reliable, affordable power. “That’s why we’re embracing nuclear energy as part of the solution and reembracing it as part of the mix the World Bank Group can offer developing countries to achieve their ambitions,” said World Bank Group president Ajay Banga. “This landmark partnership, yet another sign of the world’s return to realism on nuclear power, opens the door for other multilateral development banks and private investors to consider nuclear as a viable tool for energy security and sustainable prosperity,” added IAEA director general Mariano Grossi. The IAEA has published guidelines for the transport of unspent and spent nuclear fuel, covering all safety aspects. ER