The Honourable Minister of Environment, Mr. John Odey, says use of nuclear energy for electricity generation is no longer an option but a necessity if Nigeria is to meet her energy needs. The grid capacity built around oil, natural gas and hydro, he said, is not only grossly inadequate but cannot meet the country’s current and future energy demand. He said the Motor Columbus Study submitted to the Federal Government in 1978 showed that nuclear power will play an important role by this century when the country will require a minimum of 20,000 mw of electricity based on projected energy demand. Environmental considerations, he said, independent of other factors, is also an incentive to pursue nuclear power for electricity generation. The Minister was speaking as Special Guest of Honour at the National Workshop of Stakeholders on the Safety Requirements for Nuclear Power Plant Siting in Abuja organized by the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority, NNRA. He commended the NNRA for, what he called, its broad-based consultation with all stakeholders to ensure that nuclear electricity is carried out in a sustainable manner.
MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT, JOHN ODEY
A Technical Advisory Committee was set-up by the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority to develop regulations for Licensing of Sites for Nuclear Power Plants. The Draft Regulations developed by the Committee was subjected to international scrutiny in a National Workshop (26 – 30 October, 2009 in Abuja) attended by experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, regulatory bodies from South Africa, Germany and Russia as well as IAEA experts from Spain and Italy. Nigerian experts from government ministries, departments and agencies also attended. Their observations and comments were incorporated into the Draft Regulations and sent to stakeholders for further consideration and comments. The international team in the workshop of October, 2009 submitted a report covering Seismic Hazard Assessment, Flood Hazards, Atmospheric Dispersion, Dose and Population Considerations, Human-Induced Events and Quality Assurance.
The aim of the Stakeholders’ Workshop is to harmonize all these comments and recommendations and produce Final Draft Regulations which will be submitted through the NNRA Governing Board to the President for approval and publication in the Federal Government gazette.
NNRA Director-General, Prof. Shamsideen Elegba, said the bill will strengthen NNRA in its regulatory functions which, he said, goes beyond departments in the Science and Technology Ministry, covering 11 areas. Some of these are agriculture, health, petroleum and manufacturing.
STAKEHOLDERS AT THE WORKSHOP
