AFCONE Signs MoU with NBP to Drive Nuclear Developments in Africa
PRESS RELEASE
New commitment seeks to advance, promote and improve the quality, effectiveness and efficiency of nuclear market access in the African region
Global consulting firm, Nuclear Business Platform (NBP) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the African Commission on Nuclear Energy (AFCONE), an autonomous regional body established by the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty, represented by Mr. Enobot Agboraw, Executive Secretary, outlining areas for cooperation on the region’s civil nuclear power programs including on nuclear industry developments, education and awareness raising, and access to key stakeholders locally and globally.
The agreement was signed on the side-lines of the Africa Nuclear Business Platform 2023 conference and exhibition that was hosted by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Developments in Kampala, Uganda on 16th March.
Enobot Agboraw. AFCONE’s Executive Secretary said: “Partnering with NBP expands and strengthens AFCONE’s efforts to reverse Africa’s energy deficit. Africa currently has the lowest per capita access to electricity, without which industrial development is not possible. Nuclear energy promises to provide a reliable, cost effective, and low carbon solution for redressing the situation”.
It is no secret that Africa has a massive need for energy. According to the IAEA, about 600 million people and 10 million small businesses in Africa have no reliable source of electricity, and increasingly, connection to a national grid is no guarantee of electricity supply. Blackouts are becoming more frequent, and in sub-Saharan Africa, the World Bank reports that almost 80 per cent of businesses suffer from power outages, greatly curtailing their activities. Meanwhile, Africa’s energy demand is increasing twice as fast as the global average, largely driven by urban population growth.
Increasingly a number of the 50+ countries on the continent are looking at nuclear as a reliable baseload energy. Furthermore, nuclear power would bring economic transformation to the African countries through the provision of electricity in a safe and environmentally friendly manner. Nuclear power would also enable the African continent to achieve targets under the UN Sustainable Development Goals goal seven and thirteen. Goal seven aims at ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all, and goal thirteen focuses on combatting climate change and its impacts.
NBP has been involved in the nuclear energy sector for over a decade and is experienced at supporting newcomer countries in the development of their civil nuclear power programs. For this MoU, NBP together with AFCONE will seek to promote the development of nuclear power in Africa to bridge the energy gap and to advance industrialization and sustainable socioeconomic development. This will include engaging with African States, particularly newcomer States, and to facilitate their access to vendors and other holders of nuclear power technology.
Zaf Coelho, NBP’s Managing Director said: “We are delighted to partner with AFCONE to drive nuclear energy developments in Africa. 11 African countries are currently considering adding new nuclear power to their energy mix including Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria and Uganda, in addition to South Africa which is the only country on the continent to have an operating nuclear power plant. There has been significant progress regarding nuclear power implementation in various countries of the continent, such as identifying the site for the upcoming future nuclear power plants, drafting nuclear laws and regulations, establishing dedicated nuclear organizations, calling for RFIs and developing national positions and timelines.”
ABOUT AFCONE
The African Commission on Nuclear Energy (AFCONE) is an autonomous organization established by the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (Treaty of Pelindaba). AFCONE’s main mission is to contribute to the strengthening of international peace and security through ensuring the commitment of African States to nuclear non-proliferation, disarmament and nuclear security. AFCONE is uniquely mandated to oversee and coordinate nuclear activities and cooperation in Africa, and contributes to the wellbeing and socioeconomic development of African States through the promotion of nuclear safety and the civil applications of nuclear energy.
For more information, please visit www.afcone.org
ABOUT NBP
Nuclear Business Platform (NBP) is a business unit of Industry Platform, a growth consulting firm headquartered in Singapore with regional presence in India, Morocco, Türkiye and South Korea. Established in 2012, NBP is 100% focused on the civil nuclear energy sector and serves as an avenue for private and public organizations to interact and expand their nuclear power programs. We have worked and established strong relationships with global nuclear companies and government agencies for over a decade. At the heart of what we do, NBP firmly believes that nuclear energy is pivotal in the fight against climate change and countries must include nuclear energy in their energy mix to achieve decarbonisation targets and industrialization ambitions. Markets which NBP operate in include East Asia, Southeast Asia, India, Africa, Middle East, Türkiye and Latin America.
