Accra, Ghana- Nuclear fission – the process by which nuclear energy is used to generate electricity – looks set to support the future of clean, net zero energy globally. To keep Global warming to no more than 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels — as called for by the 2015 Paris Agreement, the world would need to reach net zero by 2050. Countries have set net zero goals, pledging to decarbonize their economies and cut greenhouse gas emissions to as close to zero as possible by 2050, 2070 or beyond.
Even though Ghana’s current total carbon dioxide CO2 emissions are negligible compared to the middle income and industrialized countries, the energy sector is the leading source of the emissions. As a result, Ghana needs to commit to the international community’s call to transition the energy sector towards net-zero CO2 emissions.
Outlined in its Energy Transition Framework to ensure a just and equitable transition through exploiting its natural resources - (green) minerals, including, lithium and graphite, experts say Ghana has positioned itself to take advantage of its clean energy potential. ‘’We recognize that the exploitation of these resources for the transition comes with opportunities, and we are determined to extract these resources, and make efficient use of them through value addition to establish Ghana as a hub for electricity with a critical focus on green and clean energy’’
The executive director of Nuclear Power Ghana, Stephen Yamoah said as this requires investment in a healthy, resilient, carbon-neutral economy that prevents future threats to the environment as Ghana opts for Nuclear energy as a clean technology that produces nearly zero carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gas emissions.
‘’Ghana and the rest of Africa need to take advantage of its green energy resource potential (hydro, uranium, biomass, geothermal, wind, tidal waves and solar) and abundant natural resources (diamond, gold, platinum, copper, cobalt, iron ore, phosphate, bauxite, copper, silicon and titanium) to strategically position itself for the green trade as well as clean environment’’
Achieving this goal will involve shifting away from fossil fuels and accelerating transformation of how populations produce, consume, and commute, while ensuring any remaining emissions are reabsorbed by carbon sinks such as the ocean and forests, he added.
The Association of Ghana Industries AGI, says in their quest for cheaper and reliable power to industrialize as consumers of power they are not oblivious of the environmental impact of CO2 levels produced by industry. We as industry will partner the nuclear power Ghana in realizing a collective dream, said the president of AGI, Kwesi H Ayim Darke. ‘Nuclear power is more readily available to meet energy demands for industry as well as help lower the carbon intensity of electricity supply during times when other renewable energy sources might not be as readily available’’
The world trade is shifting towards green markets - commodities that are manufactured using clean energy resources. International funding of national programmes and projects is increasingly going toward green economies and we must be ready to align – Ayim Darke explains.