The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy wrapped up the first-ever U.S.-Africa Nuclear Energy Summit (USANES) in Ghana, where participants from across the continent discussed the future of nuclear power.
November 2, 2023
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WASHINGTON, D.C.— The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy on Wednesday wrapped up the first-ever U.S.-Africa Nuclear Energy Summit (USANES) in Accra, Ghana, where participants from across the continent discussed the future of nuclear power and laid a foundation for sustainable nuclear energy growth in the region.
The summit, which began Monday and was organized in partnership with Ghana’s Ministry of Energy and the Nuclear Power Institute of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, provided a platform for crucial dialogues and international cooperation on nuclear energy. Attendees included senior-level officials from government, academia, industry, civil society, and national laboratories in the United States and across Africa.
“The outcome of this summit must propel the deployment of nuclear technology for power production in Africa, as the application of this technology holds the potential to expand our economies and improve the lives of our people,” said the President of the Republic of Ghana Nana Addo, Dankwa Akufo-Addo, speaking from a gala dinner as part of the International Framework for Nuclear Energy Cooperation meeting also in Accra this week. “As African countries strive to meet their commitments, under the Paris Agreement, nuclear power offers a viable solution for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, whilst meeting the growing energy demands of our populations.”
“Nuclear power holds significant potential for countries around the world. It can drive the clean energy revolution, strengthen energy access and diversity of supply, and fuel industrial development in energy intensive sectors,” said U.S. Ambassador to Ghana, Virginia E. Palmer. “Nuclear energy development demands committed partners. The United States is your 100-year nuclear energy partner.”
The summit was part of a week-long series of events hosted in Ghana, which also included a meeting of the International Framework for Nuclear Energy Cooperation (IFNEC) and a day dedicated to engaging young people. Local Ghanaian university students met with U.S. Government and industry representatives and national laboratory experts to foster new partnerships between the United States and Africa in nuclear innovation. To further work with next generation leaders, IFNEC and the Nuclear Energy Agency will also hold a special mentoring workshop for high school-age girls in Ghana.
DOE plans to host biennial summits on the continent to continue the momentum and deliver on the promise of nuclear energy technology for nations and communities in Africa.
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