Nigeria is ready for nuclear energy- Fashola

The Federal Government on Wednesday, said
Nigeria was ready to commence the
production of nuclear energy.
The Minster of Power, Works and Housing, Mr
Babatunde Fashola, who made this known at
the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum in
Abuja, said Nigeria had secured the necessary
certification from the International Atomic
Energy Agency(IAEA).
Fashola said: "`This thing has protocols and
standards; we are already in it; we are not
venturing into it; we started a nuclear
programme 17 years ago.
``We have gone through the training level; we
have produced 25 graduates of master’s level
under certification by the International Atomic
Energy Agency.
``We have found the sites; the sites have been
approved, two sites have been approved by
International Atomic Energy Agency.
``We have started the design for the financing;
that is the stage we are now; once we
conclude that, we move to the design for the
construction.
``If all things go well, by quarter four of next
year - that is the schedule that I met - we
should have started construction, so that is
what I meet.``
Fashola said it was important for Nigeria to
focus on the gains and safety of nuclear
energy as obtained in other developed
countries.
He said that since the whole world was
moving toward a cleaner fuel and the use of
more sustainable form of energy, Nigeria
could be an exception.
He, however, said that the developed
countries could only share the technology
with countries ready keep to the standards in
the utilisation of the technology.
The minister further said that diversifying the
nation’s energy mix would lead to the
utilisation of the various forms of renewable
energy sources in the country.
This, according to him, will ultimately make
electricity cheap in the country.
``What we are thinking about is long-term
solution. We need a solution that will endure
for generations to come.
``When you design a power solution, design it
so that the next coming generations can use
it.
He said the ministry and other agencies under
his supervision were working hard to ensure
that Nigeria obtained the best in the electricity
industry through strict regulatory
responsibilities.
On the monthly meeting with stakeholders in
the industry, Fashola said it was designed to
evolve better ways of managing the industry,
adding that it was yielding the desired results.