With industrial parks being constructed and expansion of projects taking root, the country’s energy demanding is increasing over time at alarming rate. This is further driven by expanding economy and sharp population growth, in turn requiring the country to identify alternative energy sources besides expanding and finalizing hydropower projects.
In fact, the country has so much to do when it comes to diversifying its energy sources despite its efforts to generate power from geothermal and wind energies. The country has constructed multiple hydropower plants.
But the demand has been far from enough and experts are now advising the country to look for other alternative sources of energy. Despite a leap growth in hydro energy generation over the last couple of years, power has been in short supply in the country while large portion of rural population remains off the grid.
The number of the country’s industries is ever increasing and economic activities have also been expanding. These on the other hand put onus on the country to diversify and widen other energy alternative sources which the first prerequisite for investors.
And now that the country is very much aware of its energy demand, it is looking for modern and efficient energy sources including Nuclear energy. Nuclear energy despite its capital intensity is one of the sources which the country sees as a long-term plan to meet growing energy demand.
Ethiopia and Russia agreed to enhance engagement in the development of nuclear energy facility in Ethiopia during Russian Foreign Minister Serge Lavrov’s visit to Addis Ababa.
Talks have been underway since establishing nuclear technology center on the existing Russia design research reactor. The work is progressing and will be accelerated once the inter government is signed.
The country has entered a nuclear development roadmap with Russia recently which would allow the former to use nuclear in agriculture, health and manufacturing sectors.
The signing follows an earlier memorandum of understanding, signed in June 2017 that established a legal framework for nuclear cooperation. The roadmap determines specific steps in strengthening bilateral cooperation in the field of peaceful use of atomic energy.
The parties have identified joint actions within the framework of a nuclear power plant construction and center for nuclear science construction projects.
A general agreement on cooperation between the two countries in the sphere of nuclear energy use for peaceful purposes is on the table of both Sides. A Nuclear Research Center based on the Russian design is planned for the construction on the Ethiopian territory in the nearest future, states Russian Ambassador to Ethiopia E.Terekhin.
Ethiopia is extremely reliant on hydropower plants. However, the rapid population growth and expansion of industries surly put onus on the country to look for other reliable sources of energy. Hydropower could easily be affected by natural phenomena such as drought. So the country’s decision to use nuclear energy is imperative stated, Tilahun Tesfaye Assistant Professor of Nuclear Science at the Department of Physics in Addis Ababa University.
“It would be in the best interest of the country if it diversified its energy source. And nuclear energy is the best alternative being one of the cleanest and safest energy sources,” Dr. Tilahun.
Nuclear energy is reliable and has good safety record, he added. Countries should be ensuring their energy security if the economy and political situations are also to be stable. Energy shortage is one of the major sources of public outcry, he adds.
Though effectively utilized in developed countries, nuclear energy is also becoming increasingly popular in dozens of African countries with neighboring Kenya showing progress towards the energy development. Nuclear energy despite its capital intensity and political implication is not luxury to countries like Ethiopia.
Nuclear energy requires huge economic investment and political dealing as the world remains skeptic on the purpose of nuclear enrichment. One of the major constraints that would put Ethiopia’s planned nuclear energy development could be financial constraints and expertise to run and operate the facility.
Learning institutions should be educating nuclear scientists and engineers who can run the facilities. Also is powerful nation’s pressure on poor countries not develop nuclear energy fearing government’s could be using for weapon development. Hence it behooves the country to strengthen its diplomatic works.
“With nuclear energy also comes some risks such possible radiation and leak, hence the country needs to build the capacity of regulatory bodies ahead of such move.” He noted, “nuclear power plant could give country much energy than hydro ones. Thus, it is worthwhile that the country should be working relentlessly on it.”
The Ethiopian Herald August 23/2019
BY DESTA GEBREHIWOT
