Africa Moves Ahead on Nuclear Power, The West Falls Further Behind

 

I consider myself an eco-modernist.  I understand the science behind climate change.  But I don’t think either panic or deindustrialization is necessary to address it.  Rather, I believe that technology can allow us to reduce carbon emissions and at the same time increase our material standard of living. 

The most promising alternative to fossil fuels is nuclear power.  Unfortunately, government regulation and environmentalist scaremongering has prevented the development of new commercial nuclear facilities in the United States and Europe for the last fifty years.

Fortunately, the rest of the world is not so backward looking.  Commercial nuclear development is taking off in Africa. 

African economies are growing rapidly and so is their demand for reliable electricity that can power industry and commercial activities.  Wind and solar can’t do that. 

Here’s a roundup of commercial nuclear development in North and East Africa. 

Egypt is building a mammoth 4,800 MW plant on the Mediterranean coast.  The El Dabaa plant is being financed with assistance from Russia. 

Four East African countries have announced plans to develop commercial scale nuclear power plants to support economic growth.

Uganda is leading the way.  Uganda is planning a 2000 MW nuclear power plant with the first 1000 MW of capacity to be brought online in 2031.

Rwanda signed an agreement with a German-Canadian company to develop a nuclear power test facility. 

Kenya plans to start construction on a 1000 MW commercial nuclear plan in 2027. 

Burinka Faso is working with Russian on the development of commercial nuclear. 

And Tanzania is looking into developing commercial nuclear facilities in conjunction with Russia. 

Meanwhile, Germany shut down its last three nuclear plants this year.  In their place, Germany has ramped up generation from carbon-emitting coal. 

Nuclear energy is yet another industry where the United States is far behind Russia and China.  None of the African projects are being developed by U.S. firms.  Commercial nuclear has become another industry of the future where the United States is not competitive.

Update: China brings the world's first Generation IV nuclear reactor online.