2023-11-07 23:16:23
The transitional government of Burkina Faso signed a memorandum of understanding with Rosatom during the Russian Energy Week which was held in Moscow in mid-October. The Russian nuclear agency also announced a cooperation agreement with Mali. For these countries, it is a first step towards civil nuclear energy, but we are only at the beginning.
The road to nuclear electricity production is very long. It is necessary to train qualified personnel, set up a nuclear safety authority, and have it validated by the IAEA, the international authority responsible for ensuring the conformity of the program. This takes time, explains Ludovic Dupin, information director of the French nuclear energy company.
« Poland is going to launch a nuclear program and it launched its nuclear safety authority procedures in 2013. And it has just, in 2023, received approval from the IAEA to launch its program. Whether it is Russian promoters, Americans, French who provide safety expertise, this remains very long periods of time because it is necessary to train people, in fact, nuclear safety inspectors, it is a specific job, it takes time. »
A program ” realistic »
Mali has announced four 55 megawatt power plants. Burkina Faso would move towards SMR technology, small modular reactors capable of up to 300 megawatts. Very political announcement effect for some. This is not the opinion of Lassina Zerbo, former Prime Minister of Burkina Faso and chairman of the board of directors of the Rwanda Atomic Energy Board. He was consulted on this program.
« With new technologies, I believe it is realistic. Nuclear power has evolved, technologies have evolved. Today we are talking about SMR, Small Modular Reactors, we are talking about nanoreactors. Before, we were talking about very large quantities of water for conventional nuclear power plants, but with SMRs, we don’t need that much water, we don’t need that much uranium. And then with gas cooling and other methods, we are able to reduce the size of nuclear power plants today. I think it is realistic for African countries. »
What security for these installations?
No details yet on the agreement signed between Rosatom and Burkina, nor on the financing, nor on the timetable. This is only the very beginning of the program, believes Emmanuelle Galichet, teacher-researcher in nuclear physics at the National Conservatory of Arts and Crafts in Paris. “ We are not at all in the transfer of skills. Rosatom is very well armed, particularly when it comes to financial aid. In their partnerships, Rosatom very often offers to finance everything at the start, therefore to take charge of the entire capital-intensive part of this industry.. »
There remains the question of the security of installations in these countries prey to terrorist attacks. Difficult to assess for the moment, according to Ludovic Dupin. “ Feasibility studies will be essential, not only from a technical point of view, but from an effective security point of view. And now, it’s too early to say what will happen. Should we do nuclear power in these countries? It’s going to take a lot of study and preparation.. »
On the continent, only South Africa has a nuclear power plant in operation, but other countries such as Egypt in partnership with Rosatom are currently developing their programs.
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