As implementing nuclear energy has manifold advantages such as protecting air quality, using medical purpose, agriculture, proficient human resource, and the likes, Ethiopia has been striving to make use nuclear technology working together with China and Russia, said MInT.
The Ministry of Innovation and Technology (MInT), Belete Molla (PhD) recently visited the China Nuclear Power Authority. During the course the visit, Belete discussed with the China Atomic Energy Authority (CAEA) Vice Chairperson, Liu Jing areas on the widely implemented agreements between the two countries in the way forwarding nuclear power for peaceful purposes, especially in the development of human resources.
Belete said that Ethiopia wants to reach the level of development that China has achieved in using nuclear technology for peaceful purposes. China has been practicing universal development support in Ethiopia. He appreciated China’s support for training Ethiopian experts in the field of nuclear technology so far. In this regard, Ethiopia prompts to expand similar activities in nuclear felid.
According to the information gained from MInT official page, Ethiopia is working closely with The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to utilize nuclear power for development. Belete asked the Chinese to support Ethiopia’s proposal submitted to IAEA to build an African nuclear technology training center in Addis Ababa.
The two bodies discussed about the possibility of expanding the context in which universities in Ethiopia work in cooperation with Chinese universities and institutions in the field of nuclear education and research.
CAEA’s Vice Chairperson, Liu Jing on his part said that his country supports Ethiopia’s effort to develop nuclear technology, starting with the development of human resources.
Jing indicated that a tripartite agreement will be made between the African Union, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Chinese government to establish a training institute in Africa at the meeting to be held in FOCAC in the coming September. In this agreement, the international institutions and China will support to African Union and Ethiopia. The processes, strategies, and actual results that have led China from developing small research reactors to where it is today are described- in the visiting.
By the same token, Ethiopia and Russia had signed a cooperation agreement roadmap in the field of useful atomic energy to implement on the development aspects . This document was signed between Belete and Director General of ROSATOM (Rosatom State Nuclear Energy Corporation) Alexey Likhachev on the sidelines of the 2nd Russia-Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum in St. Petersburg a year ago.
According to local media report, the two parties plan to join forces to develop Ethiopia’s national nuclear infrastructure, organize technical tours and seminars, and hold meetings of specialized working groups. The roadmap will take 2023-2025 to explore the possibilities of building nuclear power plant of large or small power capacity, as well as a Center for Nuclear Science and Technology in Ethiopia.
“Ethiopia wants to use nuclear technology for health, agriculture and energy supply sectors,” said Belete.
For his part, Alexey Likhachev said that building the capacity of Ethiopian experts in atomic science is the primary focus of the agreement. He mentioned that ROSATOM is working on the construction of 33 nuclear research centers in 8 countries.
Following the aforementioned roadmap agreement, Ethiopia is working to utilize nuclear energy for peaceful purpose in close with Russian nuclear energy companies, according to MInT. Work is being undertaken to build a nuclear science and technology center and a national nuclear power station in Ethiopia and to develop its national nuclear infrastructure.
MInT Office Head, Desta Abera, said that cooperation with ROSATOM on facilitating the transfer of knowledge, experience and technology lays a foundation to the journey towards a nuclear energy program in Ethiopia.
Through the bilateral cooperation, priority is given for the program to be safe and environmentally friendly. In addition to its importance in boosting to the country’s economy, the bilateral cooperation on the construction and peaceful atomic energy program will further strengthen the Ethiopian-Russian relations, it was further indicated.
Furthermore, Ethiopia has a long standing relationship with the two countries in various development issues whilst the nations are members of the BRICS family.
BY MESERET BEHAILU
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD FRIDAY 9 AUGUST 2024
