Nigeria to stabilise electricity supply with Nuclear Energy

The Nigerian government has been urged to exploit the maximum benefits of  peaceful nuclear Energy to build a stable base power supply in the country.

Nigeria’s Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu made the call, when he declared open the Nigeria Energy Calculator 2050 (NECAL2050) stakeholders engagement, in Abuja the nation’s capital.

According to Dr. Onu, when Nigeria peacefully maximises Nuclear energy, it would help build a stable power supply base and would also benefit many socio-economic areas such as medicine, agriculture, education, manufacturing and overall national economic growth.

The Nigeria Energy calculator 2050, is an energy planning model which will offer choices in the energy development to be examined alongside its environmental consequences.

On safety concerns of the use of nuclear energy, the Minister called on the active participation of the organised private sector, to research and develop nuclear technology for the overall benefit of Nigerians.

He called on Nigeria, to partner with other countries willing to help in the development of necessary expertise in Nuclear Technology.

“Our dear nation cannot continue to stay away from the peaceful use of Nuclear Technology. The concern for safety is one that can be adequately handled through the participation of the private sector in Nuclear Technology. We should bring in our business people so that they can start making money working on Nuclear Technology. We should also work with any country, all countries willing to assist Nigeria in acquiring the necessary expertise needed in Nuclear Technology” he said

The Minister further called for efficient and effective use of energy resources, to guarantee rapid national industrialisation in the country.

“Nigeria has enormous energy resources, therefore the task facing us is to efficiently and effectively utilise these resources to guarantee rapid industrialisation of the nation”. He said.

Dr. Onu also Stressed the  need that the Nigeria needs a development pathway that can help the country achieve sustainable national development, adding that the nation’s factories, offices, laboratories, business and homes must have sufficient power to run effectively.

“I am optimistic that our dear nation will pursue the right combination of different sources of energy including renewable, fossil fuel as well as nuclear energy”.he added

Earlier, the Director General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, Professor Eli Jidere Bala, said the United Kingdom is collaborating with the Commission to develop the Nigeria Energy Calculator 2050 (NECAL2050), which is a key energy planning tool.

“In order to update and improve on the 2015 version of NECAL 2050 as well as to facilitate the review and deepening of Nigeria’s National Determined Contribution, the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Energy of the United Kingdom through the British High Commission in the 2nd quarter, arranged  a support for Nigeria despite the COVID-19 pandemic”.

“Also an MOU was signed between the Department of Climate Change of the Federal Ministry of Environment and United Kingdom at the premises of the British High Commission in Abuja, on the 23rd of June 2020.since then work has commenced with the formation of National Steering Committee and Technical Working Group”

“Again Consortium from the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Energy Imperial College and Ricardo and Climate are technically supporting this project” he said.

Professor Jidere further stated that the Nigeria Energy Calculator 2050 (NECAL2050), will help promote global warming mitigation.

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