The Brew – Hammond Energy Centre (TBHEC), College of Engineering (CoE) of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has organised a public lecture on the theme; “Energy Security in Ghana: The case of Nuclear Power” at the Kumapley Auditorium.
The programme which attracted about One Hundred and Seventy (170) participants via inhouse and online, brought together some stakeholders from the energy sector, members of the University community and the general public to discuss issues relating to research and development of the energy sector in Ghana.
The lecture addressed issues on policy frameworks on sustainable nuclear energy technology, implementation in Ghana and how it contributes to Ghana’s energy generation mix.
Professor Mark Adom-Asamoah, Provost of the College of Engineering (CoE) in his welcome address mentioned that it is relevant for industry players in the Energy sector to address the numerous power challenges of the Energy sector.
He urged industry players to consider the implementation of alternative sources of energy to augment the already existing hydro-energy.
The Deputy Director of Renewable and Alternative Energy Directorate at the Ministry of Energy, Dr. Robert Bright Mawukoe Sagbadji, stated that every economy can progress with sustainable and low-priced energy, however, the ‘galamsey’ has affected the current source of hydro energy supply in the country.
Dr. Sagbadji noted that an economy reliant on fossil fuels causes drastic changes to climate. He encouraged Investment in solar, nuclear, wind and thermal power to improve energy productivity in achieving the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7 by 2030. On industrialisation in Ghana, he proposed that the Government continues to build nuclear power plants in the country. The phase one of the Ghana nuclear power programme has been completed, he revealed.
Dr. Sagbadji was hopeful that by 2030, Ghana energy sector would be fused into the nuclear power grid which would create jobs for the youth. He, however, encouraged higher learning institutions to introduce academic programmes in nuclear engineering disciplines.
In the Chairman’s closing remarks, Professor Mark Adom-Asamoah was hopeful that KNUST would seize the opportunity to explore other academic disciplines in nuclear engineering.