US Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for International Security and Nonproliferation Ann Ganzer joined Ghanaian counterparts on Wednesday to announce further US support for establishing Ghana as a Small Modular Nuclear Reactor (SMR) Regional Training Hub and center of excellence for the sub-Saharan African region.
The $1.75 million in funding will support Ghana’s nuclear workforce development, including the provision of an SMR control room simulator, university partnerships, and academic exchanges to position Ghana to serve as a regional training hub for nuclear power technicians and operators.
Through this partnership, Ghana will be positioned to develop a skilled nuclear workforce for the region consistent with the highest international standards of nuclear safety, security, and nonproliferation.
“This new commitment will support Ghana in establishing a Small Modular Reactor Regional Training Hub and center of excellence for the sub-Saharan African region,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Ganzer.
“With this support, Ghana will be positioned to develop a skilled nuclear workforce for the country and the region consistent with the highest international standards of nuclear safety, security, and nonproliferation. This partnership will assist Ghana and other like-minded countries in the region in moving towards clean, affordable, safe, and secure energy sources.”
This project is supported by the Foundational Infrastructure for Responsible Use of Small Modular Reactor Technology (FIRST) capacity building program, in which Ghana has participated since 2022.
FIRST supports Ghana’s leadership in the region on moving towards SMR deployment, consistent with the highest international standards for security, safety, and nonproliferation, and its development of a skilled nuclear workforce to achieve decarbonization and energy security goals.
Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation hosted a high-level delegation from Ghana and Kenya to visit U.S. national laboratories and operating nuclear power plants to strengthen our partnerships, with support by the FIRST Programme.
Both Kenya and Ghana have been outstanding FIRST program partners in the sub-Saharan African region and continue to receive support in the form of training, technical collaboration, and capacity-building activities.
This announcement is another step in the US commitment to deepen US-Ghana civil nuclear cooperation and support Ghana’s goal of being a first mover in Africa, as announced (link) at the 2022 International Atomic Energy Agency Nuclear Power Ministerial Conference in Washington. US support to Ghana includes technical assistance, professional training exchanges, and regulatory framework collaboration.
The United States is committed to supporting the use of innovative clean energy technologies to power global decarbonization efforts and providing options to achieve net zero transition in hard-to-abate energy sectors.