The world’s second-largest continent, with the longest river and the biggest hot desert in the world, has a country that has been making headlines. An African country has been working on a new 4 GW project, with many other countries following suit. These projects are set to change the continent’s energy. It’s big, it’s powerful, and it will evolve the continent’s power grid into being more sustainable and green. However, while some may be celebrating the new projects, others have been advocating against them.
Keeping up with the rest of the world
The world has been experiencing a boom in its population growth over the past few decades, resulting in an even higher demand for power. Unfortunately, the reliance on burning fossil fuels for power has resulted in a negative impact on the environment. The effects of climate change can be felt globally, which is why the UN implemented a treaty on climate change in Paris in 2015, known as the Paris Agreement.
196 parties adopted the treaty in an attempt to limit global warming. The main approach to achieving this was to adopt renewable energy sources as the main alternative to burning greenhouse gas-emitting fossil fuels. However, this is easier said than done, especially with power demand increasing significantly. One continent in particular has made the spotlight in this category.
According to IAEA nuclear predictions, Africa’s power demand will reportedly increase sevenfold by 2050. The new power projects on the continent could help to meet a portion of these demands, and hopefully help to keep its carbon footprint small to adhere to the Paris Agreement.
The African country with the new 4 GW energy project
This African country is known for its natural beauty. a rich cultural heritage and many historical events. However, it is also infamous for an event called “load shedding.” This is an event that comprises planned power outages to prevent the total collapse of the power grid, particularly when demand exceeds the supply. Hopefully, a new project will prevent load shedding. This plant will reportedly be part of the country’s strategy to expand renewable energy capacity and decrease its dependency on coal-fired plants.
If you haven’t guessed it, we are referring to none other than South Africa. The environment minister announced that Eskom, a state-owned power utility, was granted permission to construct a new 4 GW power plant in the Western Cape. This project will comprise nuclear power that could be green soon, and the facility will be constructed in Duynefontein, in proximity to Cape Town’s Koeberg plant. According to Reuters, Koeberg is Africa’s sole operating commercial nuclear power station, although it only supplies 4.2% of the country’s power.
Others are following suit, despite criticism
According to Business Insider Africa, many environmental groups had appealed against the original approval in 2017. Per ESI Africa, these groups have the right to raise concerns, as nuclear power in South Africa faces the following disadvantages:
- Nuclear waste
- Outdated energy policy
- Lack of transparency
- Lack of local skills
- Safety concerns
- High construction costs
Despite concerns and criticism, many other African countries are following suit when it comes to nuclear power. According to Energy For Growth Hub, some countries that will potentially be ready for nuclear power by 2030 include:
- Egypt
- Ghana
- Uganda
- Morocco
- Kenya
- Algeria
- Tunisia
Nuclear power has great potential to provide clean, sustainable power to Africa, but many of these countries are still far from making these projects a reality. Financing and corruption are the main issues, especially in South Africa. Russia and Iran have emerged as potential partners, but the countries are still far from forming an alliance. This is why Trump has set his sights on nuclear power, and with the Paris Agreement deadline approaching, others may soon turn to nuclear power as well.
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