Ghana’s nuclear power project will boost STEM – Dr Yamoah
Ghana’s one gigawatt nuclear power plant, being spearheaded by the Nuclear Power Ghana (NPG), will promote Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) in the country.
Dr Stephen Yamoah, the Executive Director of NPG, speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, said the yet-to-be-constructed nuclear plant would offer opportunities to enhance the teaching, learning and practicing of STEM from Senior High Schools to the tertiary level.
“In the nuclear industry there are scientists, engineers, physicists, mathematicians, chemists and other science related fields that work together. So that platform will offer that window of opportunity,” he said.
Regarding job creation, he said a one gigawatts nuclear power plant could employ between 700 to 900 people.
According to the Executive Director, the construction stage of the plant would employ thousands as labourers aside other service providers.
Dr Yamoah said the operation of the plant would bring economic transformation to the country through the provision of electricity in a safe and environmentally friendly manner.
The nuclear programme, he said, would enable the country to achieve targets under Sustainable Development Goals goal seven and 13.
Goal Seven aims at ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all, and goal 13 focuses on combat of climate change and its impacts.
In the spirit of industrialising sustainably while keeping emissions low, Ghana rekindled its desire initiated by Dr Kwame Nkrumah, the First President of the country, to include nuclear power in its energy mix.
The country has targeted to construct and operate its first nuclear plant by 2030, with the NPG, given the mandate to operate the plant.
The programme is in its second phase, which entails engaging with vendors, further site assessment, handling issues of contracting, recruitment and training of staff, conducting more feasibility studies, and signing of a contract.
Source: GNA