Page 10 - AfrElec Week 15 2021

AfrElec NUCLEAR AfrElec

Zimbabwe brings in Russia to

develop nuclear energy

ZIMBABWE ZIMBABWE has signed a memorandum of $29bn.
understanding (MoU) with Russia’s Rosatom Rosatom fuel subsidiary TVEL recently
to explore the possibility of nuclear power in the sealed a deal with Egyptian Atomic Energy
country in a bid to reduce the country’s reliance Agency (EAEA) to supply low-enriched fuel
on hydro and coal. components to Egypt in 2021 that will be used
“The anticipated co-operation in the use of in Egypt’s ETRR-2 research reactor. It is used for
nuclear energy for peaceful purposes will pro- research in particle physics and material studies,
vide alternative sources of energy which Zim- as well as for the production of radioisotopes.
babwe needs,” Information Minister Monica Elsewhere, Burundi has approached Rosa-
Mutsvangwa said, Bloomberg reported. tom this year to help develop up to 556 MW of
As well as generation, the deal calls for explor- nuclear capacity to power its mining industry.
ing the construction of a nuclear science and South Africa was also a target for Rosatom,
technology centre. with the Russians negotiating with Eskom until
Zimbabwe currently receives power from the 2018 to build up to 9,600 MW of new nuclear
Lake Kariba south power station, as well as coal- capacity. However, this was heavily dependent
fired capacity at Hwange. on the support of former South African Presi-
The hydro plant has been hit by drought and dent Jacob Zuma. Since his fall, nuclear power
low water levels in Lake Kariba, while Hwange has fallen out of favour, with the South African
has been partially closed because of breakdowns. government now favouring renewables and a
This has led to power cuts in the country and new IPP programme.
a reliance on power imports from neighbouring Uganda has signed an inter-governmental
South Africa. agreement (IGA) with Russia to develop nuclear
Rosatom is aggressively targeting the African technology for energy, medical and other peace-
power market, and currently has co-operation ful purposes.
agreements with up to 20 countries in Africa. Moscow has sealed agreements with a long
As well as technical and research projects in list of African states, including Ethiopia, DR
various countries, Russia is building up to 4,000 Congo, Rwanda, Sudan, Ghana and Zambia.™
MW of nuclear capacity in Egypt at a cost of

P10 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 15 15•April•2021