FG to generate 4,800 megawatts of electricity from nuclear source between 2025 and 2028
- The Federal Government has set a target of generating 4,800 megawatts of electricity from nuclear source between 2025 and 2028
- The move is inspired by the need to diversify Nigeria's energy mix and plug the current electricity shortfall
- With this, Nigeria is inching closer towards diversifying its energy mix with the inclusion of nuclear energy
Inspired by the need to diversify Nigeria's energy mix and plug the current electricity shortfall, the Federal Government has set an ambitious target of generating 4,800 megawatts of electricity from nuclear source between 2025 and 2028.
Chairman, Nigerian Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC), Simon Mallam disclosed this recently.
The Federal Government, it would be recalled, recently signed an agreement for the construction and operation of nuclear power plants and nuclear research center with the Russian Government.
Rosatom, Russia's state owned nuclear energy provider signed on behalf of the Russian government while the NAEC - signed on behalf of the Nigerian government.
The NAEC boss said the decision by government to target between 2025 - 2028 was necessitated by the fact it takes a longer duration to produce electricity through a nuclear source.
He further pointed out that investments in nuclear energy requires a long-term process, unlike solar energy, which he noted, can be produced in a relatively shorter period.
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Underscoring some of the reasons which makes nuclear energy favorable when compared with other sources of generating electricity, such as gas fired plants, which Nigeria is heavily dependent on, Mallam pointed out that Nigeria’s gas infrastructure is fraught with challenges borne out of sabotage, occasioned with frequent acts of vandalism.
This, he stressed, had rendered some of the nation’s gas powered electricity generating plants inefficient.
Mallam further stressed that nuclear energy is more reliable than other sources of renewable energy - such as solar and wind. He stressed, solar and wind sources come with their own challenges since they are dependent on weather conditions. Moreover, the sun doesn’t shine at all times of day, thus posing constraints to solar energy.
He however stressed all these forms of energy generation with inclusion of nuclear energy could be made to complement each other.
According to him, this informed government’s decision to pursue a balanced energy mix - with inclusion of nuclear energy.
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Few months ago, Nigeria's minister of power, works and housing, Babatunde Fashola, expressed optimism that Nigeria is inching closer towards diversifying its energy mix with the inclusion of nuclear energy.
Underscoring the need for Nigeria to diversify its energy mix with inclusion of nuclear energy, Fashola said it was imperative for Nigeria to lay emphasis on the gains and safety of nuclear energy as obtained in other advanced nations.
He further stressed that nuclear energy would lead to sustainable development, stressing that nations have moved towards adoption of cleaner and more sustainable energy sources, which nuclear energy provides.
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Source: Legit.ng