U.S. Energy Department Announces Deal to Deploy Nuclear Project in Ghana

The U.S. Energy Department on Aug. 29 announced a new commercial agreement between Nuclear Power Ghana (NPG) and Regnum Technology Group, a U.S. nuclear technology project developer, to deploy a NuScale VOYGR-12 small modular reactor plant in Ghana. The deal was signed at the second annual U.S.-Africa Nuclear Energy Summit held in Nairobi, Kenya.

Regnum has partnered with NuScale Power, the only company with a small modular reactor design certified by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Regnum intends to form a subsidiary company with NPG to deploy Africa’s first commercial advanced light-water small modular reactor plant. Compared to traditional reactors, SMRs offer flexibility, quicker lead times, and low capital costs due to their simple modular design.

Since 2014, NuScale has received more than $579 million for the development and licensing of the VOYGR SMR power plant. Currently, NuScale’s VOYGR SMR is the only design to achieve the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s certification of 50 megawatts-electric per module. The company is currently applying to increase this capacity to 77 megawatts-electric per module, which is under review with the commission.

The commercial deal between Regnum and NPG expands on other technical partnerships between the U.S. and Ghana in nuclear energy. For example, the U.S. Foundational Infrastructure for the Responsible Use of Small Modular Reactor Technology Program, known as FIRST, is assisting Ghana to become an SMR Regional Hub in Africa. The initiative will provide the NuScale Energy Exploration (E2) Center SMR control room simulator to aid in technical training for professions in the nuclear industry.

The move comes even as advanced nuclear solutions are garnering broad support with a slate of initiatives including funding research, developing regulatory frameworks, and planning or constructing advanced reactors. In May, the Biden administration announced a new working group to explore ways to reduce nuclear project construction risks, a program to deploy advanced reactors at military sites, and the release of a new primer on the enhanced safety of advanced nuclear reactors.