Stable Power: Nigeria Targets Nuclear Energy

The Minister of Power,
Chinedu Nebo, says in no distant future, Nigeria would look into the direction of nuclear energy in her quest for a robust energy mix.
He stated this while receiving visiting delegation of the International Atomic Energy Council, led by its Deputy Director-General, Mr Kwanu Aning.
The minister said it was no longer acceptable for the nation to put all its eggs in one basket, and stressed the desirability for Nigeria to avoid the trend of power outages caused by lack of gas to power the existing plants.
He said, “we need coal, biomass, small hydros, solar and even nuclear components; and if designed, they are the best as they remained the cleanest and safest form of energy”.
Nebo expressed the hope that as the nation aspires to be the hub of technological know-how on the continent, acquisition of nuclear technology will, no doubt take Nigeria to mentor other African countries.
He assured the delegation of IAEC that Nigeria would welcome nuclear initiative because of its immense contribution in the treatment of some delicate anti-human substances, that have been tackled with nuclear medicine.
The Minister promised that whatever Nigeria needed to do in terms of acquisition of nuclear energy would be guided by the best international practice as nuclear energy deployment must be done in line with stick rules of engagement.
Earlier, the leader of the IAEC delegation, Mr Kwanu Aning, while briefing the minister said that the regulatory role of the body is mainly to ensure that countries deploying nuclear energy have the right technical staff, safety of environment stressing that nuclear power remains a complex energy source.
Aning remarked that energy is life and that the council would support countries energy efficiency programmes in exchange of ideas to strengthen the regulatory role.