Nigeria Nuclear Power Generation Programme: The Way Forward.

Gamma Irradiation Facility, Nuclear Technology Centre, Sheda Science and Technology Complex (SHESTCO), P. M. B. 186, Garki, Abuja, Nigeria.

It has now been established worldwide that nuclear power generation is needed to meet growing energy demands. The gases emitted from fossil fuel have serious adverse effects on the environment. The nuclear power technology is generally regarded as clean, environmentally friendly and relatively cheap to maintain. The requirements to participate in the nuclear power generation programme: political will and organised diplomacy; legislative and statutory framework; regulatory framework; international safety obligations; institutional framework; public acceptability; capacity building and technology transfer; environmental concern; waste management and finally financing were evaluated. Nigeria’s performance on all the criteria was evaluated and found satisfactory. To source fund, the Federal Government is advised to set aside twenty (20 b) billion dollars from the external reserves or the excess crude account and source about 30 billion dollars from outside the government coffers including local and foreign banks, technical and financial partners. The State and local governments should also be brought in to play very important roles. Definitely, the nuclear power generation programme poses serious challenges to Nigerians, particularly the Physicists. Therefore, Departments of Physics in all our tertiary institutions should endeavour to include nuclear physics option in their programme and work in collaboration with the faculty of engineering in their respective tertiary institutions in order to attain the necessary critical human capacity that will be needed to man the nuclear power industry within the next 10 years.

Dr. C. A. Adesanmi is a Research Director, Radiation Application and Safety, Sheda Science and Technology Complex, Abuja. The Paper was presented at the 30 th Annual Conference of the Nigerian Institute of Physics, Lagos State University, Lagos, Nigeria (2007).

It has now been established worldwide that nuclear power generation is needed to meet growing energy demands. The gases emitted from fossil fuel have serious adverse effects on the environment. The message from the 50 th Annual General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency IAEA) held in Vienna, September 2006 was very clear on this issue. There was a unanimous support for more nuclear power plants to supply electricity and meet the world energy demand. The nuclear power technology is generally regarded as clean, environmentally friendly and relatively cheap to maintain. All the Member States that can afford the nuclear power technology and willing to abide by the international regulations and safeguards, were encouraged to do so Nigeria should take advantage of the current treads worldwide and join the rest of the world in generation of electricity from nuclear energy sources. This is imperative given the Nigeria’s desire for more power and better energy mix.

The requirements to participate in the nuclear power generation programme are as follows: political will and organised diplomacy, legislative and statutory framework, international safety obligations, regulatory framework, institutional framework, capacity building and technology transfer, public acceptability, environmental concern, waste management and finally financing. Nigeria’s performance on all the criteria was evaluated

The nuclear energy programme without doubt posses serious challenges to Nigerians in general and the Nigerian Physicists in particular especially in the areas of capacity building, manpower development and training. There is the need to train about 2,000 Nigerian scientists, engineers and technologists in the next 10 years in order to meet the required human resources needed to support the nuclear power plants programme. In this paper suggestions were made for the way forward.

Definitely the political will is the most essential of all the requirements. All the other requirements then follow. The Federal Government has shown without doubt that there is political will. Energy has been made the number one priority of the present administration. Economic development, which is also in the priority list of government, depends on the productivity of the citizenry, which also depends on engaging as much as possible everybody in productive work. In physics in order to do work you have to move a force through a distance. In order to move a force through a distance you need energy. Therefore, without energy we aren’t going no where, period. Our vision to be one of the 20 most economically advanced nation of the world by the year 2020 will be a mirage without first solving the energy problems.

The Federal Government of Nigeria is determined, more than ever before, to deploy all available resources and use the appropriate energy mix in order to increase electricity generation output from the present 4,000 MW to 30,000 MW or more by 2020.

The government is also fully aware of the fact that inadequate supply of electricity is responsible for the country’s inability to generate wealth and the sole hindrance to our economy prosperity. Within two months in government the present administration has organised a mini summit of the Nigerian nuclear scientists, engineers, technologists and administrators to chart a way forward. They discussed the action plan for the national nuclear power generation directly with the President. This is a clear indication that the will is there but this should be translated into prompt and decisive action so that Nigerians and the rest of the world can take us seriously.

In international diplomacy, Nigeria is not lacking. Despite the negative propaganda in some of the western press, Nigeria is rated very high in the world diplomacy. In fact, Nigeria already has quite a number of supporters for our nuclear power programme worldwide. The United Nations through the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is in support and many other influential Member States too. All they are saying is that we must do it right and comply with all international regulations and safeguards which we are prepared to do.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs deserves some commendations. However, there is the need to step-up the diplomacy in the right direction and move ahead to consolidate on the achievements of the last administration for the successful take-off of the national nuclear power generation programme. Worldwide, nuclear power programme is taken as a national programme. Therefore, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should, as a matter of urgency, work on bilateral and multilateral agreements with nations of the manufacturers, suppliers and vendors of nuclear power plants.

Nigeria is a democratic country with well established legislative framework. This is a plus for us and we should explore it to the country’s benefits. Already we have some laws in place but there is the need for many more laws governing the construction and operation of nuclear power plants. The next line of action is to domesticate all the relevant international laws and regulations. It is advisable to establish as soon as possible a Standing Joint Committee of the Senate and the House of Representatives on Energy that will work day and night on these laws and legislations relevant to the nation’s nuclear power programmes.

We have been alive to our responsibilities in all the international obligations related to the nuclear energy programme.

Nigeria has been collaborating and cooperating with the IAEA since 1973 in the peaceful application, and use of nuclear energy and radioactive sources in agriculture, medicine and industry. By our antecedents, we have shown a commitment to the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. In 1968, Nigeria was the second country to sign the Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). We have since ratified the treaty. We have also signed the Model Additional Protocol to the Safeguard Agreement (Additional Protocol) in 2001. In addition, Nigeria played a leading role in the formulation of the Treaty on African Nuclear Weapons Free Zone (Treaty of Pelindaba opened for signature in 1996). We also signed the treaty immediately it was opened for signatory. Since then Nigeria has been working to ensure that we secure the required number of signatories in order to bring the treaty into force. In fact, in 2006, Nigeria organised and hosted a workshop to sensitize the AU Member States on the need to sign, bring it to force and ratify the Treaty of Pelindaba.

Nigeria should continue to encourage the AU Member States to sign the treaty. A well articulated and properly organised programme of activities should be put in place to actualize this noble objective. We should make them realise that most AU Member States, including Nigeria, missed the industrial revolution and till date we are still battling with under-industrialization. We are far behind in the information technology (IT) but we have recorded some progress since we joined the rest of the world. Africans cannot afford to miss this golden opportunity to joint the rest of the world in nuclear power generation programme. Most AU Member States have chronic power supply problems which have incapacitated our economy. We need urgently the nuclear power generation programme for proper energy mix in Africa. AU Member States without enough resources to finance nuclear power programme should be encouraged to enter into bilateral or multilateral agreements within their region, participate and benefit maximally in the nuclear power generation programme in order to meet the ever growing energy demands in their countries. This is a sure way forward for AU Member States towards economic emancipation of Africa. Bringing into force the Treaty of Pelindaba will give African countries a plus which will enable us to demand from the rest of the world equal reciprocation for the supply of nuclear power plants generation technology to Africa.

We have the regulatory framework in place. In August 1995, the Federal Government promulgated the Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection Decree 19 (now Act 19 of 1995). The Act was effectively implemented when the Nigeria Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA) was established in 2001. The Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement (CSA), which is the instrument for implementation of NPT signed in 1976 has since been complied with in 2003 by NNRA. Since then Nigeria has started to receive the IAEA Safeguards Inspectors to the only site in the country where we have safeguard materials. In addition, the NNRA has a State’s System of Accounting and Control (SSAC) for covering nuclear material under international safeguards. Furthermore, NNRA is obliged to and does annually submit to the IAEA, the Material Accounting Balance of all safeguard materials.

The NNRA is well positioned to carry out her statutory responsibilities. The authority has successfully licensed the nuclear research reactor at the Centre for Energy Research and Training (CERT), Zaria and Gamma Irradiation Facility at the Sheda Science and Technology Complex (SHESTCO), Abuja under the watchful eyes of the IAEA. These are in addition to licensing of several other radioactive sources being used in Nigeria. The NNRA has also championed the domestication of all international treaties and agreements in the area of peaceful applications of nuclear energy.

The government should continue to fund NNRA adequately to meeting the challenges ahead and to enable the Authority to cope with the expected expansion programme. The IAEA should also continue to assist the Authority in the areas of staff training and expert mission.

We have some basic infrastructure and institutional framework in place. There are three national nuclear energy research and development centres viz: Centre for Energy Research and Development (CERD), Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife; Centre for Energy Research and Training (CERT), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and Nuclear Technology Centre, Sheda Science and Technology Complex (SHESTCO), Abuja. In these centres, there are nuclear research reactor, particle accelerator, multipurpose 340 kilocurie Co-60 source gamma irradiation facility, 14 MeV neutron generators, Am/Be neutron sources, etc.

Furthermore, the Nigerian Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC) has been established. This is the government agency charged with the responsibility to coordinate nuclear energy programme in Nigeria. NAEC is also the government institution liaison with the IAEA on peaceful uses of nuclear energy including nuclear power generation. The performance of NAEC has been very encouraging. Substantial amount of money is required for a sustainable nuclear power generation programme, particularly form manpower development and training.

The Centre for Energy Research and Development (CERD), Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife and Centre for Energy Research and Training (CERT), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria were established in 1976. Since then, the two centres have trained at home and abroad more than 200 scientists and engineers in nuclear energy and related subjects up to a Ph. D degree level. Many more have also been trained in other tertiary institutions. CERD had a collaborative programme with the Department of Physics, OAU and many of the senior staff of the centre including some professors went through the Engineering Physics courses under the collaborative programme. The same is the case with CERT. Most of the professors at the CERT went trough the collaborative programme with the Physics Department at the Ahmadu Bello University. The two centres and the two Departments of Physics are still involved fully in the training of scientists and engineers in collaboration with relevant departments in the Faculty of Engineering in their respective institutions.

The NAEC should also embark on a programme that will increase the training centres in many universities for a wider spread covering the six geopolitical zones especially in the tertiary institutions with solid Physics Departments, physical sciences and relevant engineering programmes.

However, the training programme has to be stepped up and concrete actions should be taken as soon as possible. The government should fund NAEC and other relevant institutions adequately in order to be able to carry out the programme for capacity building, manpower development and training in nuclear power plant operation and maintenance.

Some technology has been transferred but much more is still required. Technology may be transferred through bilateral and multilateral agreements between nations (a nation with the technology and the recipient nation). Technology can also be transferred through contractual agreement with manufacturers, suppliers and vendors of nuclear power plants. However, the conditions under which the technology will be transferred must be clearly spelt out in the agreement. These two suggestions should be considered for immediate action to ensure transfer of the relevant technology.

Nigeria, for many decades, has participated in the United Nations’ Agency (IAEA) organised programmes, particularly the Technical Cooperation (TC) Agreement Projects and Regional programmes in the peaceful application of nuclear energy in Agriculture, Industry and Medicine. We have also benefited immensely from the provision of minor equipment, expert missions, training courses, fellowships and scientific visits.

Nigerians are also used to x-ray which is one of the commonest radiation source and have accepted x-ray as a useful diagnostic tool in medical care delivery. However, as it is the case worldwide, there is still phobia with some Nigerians when radiation is mentioned. This is not unexpected because Nigerians are not alone in this case. Actually, radiation is dreaded worldwide. We have to continue to educate our people, get them well informed about radiation and stating clearly that there is no need for any negative perception or fear for radiation.

Throughout history, mankind has been exposed to various forms of radiation. Radiation is present everywhere including land, sea, space, the walls of the buildings we live in, the food we eat, the milk we drink and even in our body. This type of radiation is referred to as natural radiation. In the natural background, there is radiation incident on the body from the outside which comes from cosmic rays from space and terrestrial bodies. So that if you are sitting outside you are constantly been bombarded by radiation. Also there is internal radiation exposure caused by radiation emitted from radio-nuclides absorbed into the body which is from potassium-40 in the food we eat and milk we drink, heavy elements from soil and building materials and carbon-14 form air. Although generally, they contribute more than 60% of annual radiation dose burden to man, however the radiation levels are too weak to cause any deleterious effect on man.

From the foregoing, it is evident that radiation is nothing to be feared. It has been with man for all ages and it has come to stay with mankind for ever. We only need to know what radiation is all about, understand the properties of each radiation, make use of radiation to the benefit of mankind and avoid overexposure to any form of radiation.

Nigeria, with a population of about 140 million inhabitants, is languishing in economic underdevelopment largely due to low power generating capacity and inadequate supply of electricity. The present electricity generation capacity in Nigeria is about 4, 000 MW corresponding to less than 25 watts per head compared with over 500 watt per head in South Africa and 2,000 watts per person in developed countries.

Currently, there are 441 nuclear power plants in 32 countries supplying about 17% of the world electricity. At the end of 2002, there were 32 new nuclear reactor plants under construction. In the USA, nuclear energy constitutes about 20% of the national electricity grid generated from 104 nuclear power reactors. In 2001, the USA has embarked upon deployment of new nuclear power plants in the USA for additional 50,000 MW from Generation IV Nuclear Power Reactors by 2010.

France generates about 79% of her electricity from nuclear power plants. In the 2004, 425.8 TWh out of the country's total production of 540.6 TWh was from nuclear power. France is the world's largest net exporter of electric power, exporting 18% of its total production (about 100 TWh) to Italy, the Netherlands, Britain, and Germany, and its electricity cost is among the lowest in Europe France is able to export power easily and cheaply because the country has about 59 nuclear power plants.

Percentages of electricity generated from nuclear power in other countries of the world are: Lithuania (74%), Belgium (57%), Slovak Republic (53%), Ukraine (47%), Bulgaria (45), South Korea (41%), Sweden (39%), Switzerland (38%), Japan (34%).

Even the developing countries such as South Africa, India, China, Taiwan, Brazil, etc., have also added a significant number of nuclear power plants to their energy matrix. The Chinese Government is planning to construct 30 more nuclear power plants by the year 2020. All the developed countries, the emerging economics and developing countries of the world are already planning to reduce their dependence on power from fossil fuel. Eventually they will to put an end to importation of fuel. It is thus expected that Nigeria as a nation should strive to avail herself with the benefits of nuclear power technology. Short, medium and long term strategies of sustainable nuclear power technology development should be put in place with time frame for the exploitation of our nuclear resources to meet our energy needs.

Some people argued that what is Nigeria doing with Nuclear Power Plants (NPP) when Nigeria has oil, gas and rivers? But the USA, UK and Russia have plenty of these natural resources and yet they are into nuclear power generation? In 2000, USA with about twice the population of Nigeria, had a total power generation of about 520, 990 MW and 97,411 MW was from 104 nuclear power plants (NPPs). In the same year, UK with about half the population of Nigeria, had a total power generation of 59,107 MW and 12,968 MW was from 35 NPPs. Russia, blessed with abundant oil and gas resources, had in 2000 a total power generation of about 132, 729 MW and 19,843 MW was from 29 NPPs. Even Sweden with a population less than Lagos had a total power generation of about 24,185 and 9,432 MW was from 11 NPPs. The common denominator is that these countries have used NPPs to plan well in advance on how to meet their countries future demand for electricity. Nigeria has a total power generation of about 4,000 MW and zero NPP. We must not allow ourselves to be deceived any more. Nigerians need NPPs as part of our plan to meet present and future demand for electricity.

It is in realisation of this that energy generation and utilization have been made one of the major priorities of the present administration. Nigerians appear ready to go along with the Federal Government’s nuclear power generation programme. The situation where there is inadequate and irregular electricity supply may have compelled Nigerians to accept nuclear power programme, if it can solve the problems. And why not when several countries worldwide are using nuclear power plants to solve their countries energy demand problems? In fact, most developed countries and fast developing countries have acquired nuclear power plants (table 1 refers please). Nigerians are in support of vision 20/2020 and to get there, we must review our power generation programme. The first step is to tackle the power generation problem head-on by including nuclear power in the energy mix. There is a popular saying, “acquire nuclear technology and all other technologies shall be added unto thee”. This is a fact that can be easily verified. These countries in table 1 have acquired nuclear power technology and they are on top of the world. Based on these reasons, Nigerians may be willing and ready to accept nuclear power as long as the people in-charge get it right and make electricity supply adequate and regular.

Despite the positive state of affairs with public acceptability of nuclear power generation programme by Nigerians, there should be in place a programme to deliberately sensitize the public on a continuous basis. This will continue to secure the confidence in the programme and avoid possible misleading information from others who are not really or genuinely interested in our progress.

Nigeria has been in the vanguard for protection of Africa in particular and the rest of the world in general from environmental degradation. Successive government in Nigeria have been very much concerned about the environment and have always been one of the UN Member States to sign all Agreements and Treaties on environment. In fact, it is the concern of the Federal Government for environment that led to the establishment of the Federal Ministry of Environment. The aims are to give high priority to environmental management, produce well articulated policies on environment and implement them at the highest level of government by a member of the Federal Executive Council. In this way environmental problems may be tackled head-on by the government

For over a decade now the two nuclear energy research centres, CERD and CERT, have been involved in the IAEA supported programme on management of low activity low level waste. In fact, CERT has constructed a temporary depository for low activity low level waste with the support of the IAEA.

Presently the NNRA has also been involved in harvesting orphan and unused radiation sources which could be termed as radioactive waste most especially the ones that have outlived their useful purposes. The authority is also enjoying the support of the US Department of Energy in this area in collaboration with the IAEA.

Also part of the contractual agreement between Federal Government of Nigeria and AREVA NP GmbH is the construction of a plant for radioactive waste treatment and management. All these point to the fact that, we are conscious of the importance of waste management. It is positive definite that waste management must be a major part of the agreement for the supply of nuclear power plants. We must invigorate our waste management programme, expand the existing facilities and build more radioactive waste treatment plants.

Adequate and prompt financing is the key to the success of any programme. Therefore, financing is one of the essential and necessary requirements for the participation in the nuclear power generation programme. The IAEA, which is the UN Agency in-charge of peaceful uses of nuclear energy, is in support for deployment of more nuclear power plants to meet the world energy demand for the Member States that can afford the nuclear power technology but they have to abide by the international regulations and safeguards. Nigeria can afford the nuclear power technology and we should take advantage of the present situation when the UN is in support for more nuclear power generation to meet the energy demand in Nigeria.

An holistic approach should be employed in sourcing fund for power generation from all sources to include gas, hydro, coal, nuclear, solar, wind, etc.

There are three viable options available to the government to source fund for accelerated increase in power generation in this country. They are:

Without doubt there is enough money available in the first two sources which should be wisely invested in the future of Nigerians.

The financing of power generation including nuclear power should not be left for the Federal Government alone. We are in a deep energy crisis which sooner or later may undermine our national integrity if reasonable and indeed radical steps are not taken immediately. This is a fact whether we like or not. Without a considerable increase in power supply in the next few years, the economic situation will get worse and there will be increase in crime which will be followed by total breakdown of law and order. Subsequently, the people will lose confidence and trust in the Federal Government. I will leave the rest for you to conclude. Therefore, the problem deserves all the attention that it can get now. The Federal Government has to work together with the National Council of State for all the State Governors to contribute their quota to boost the power sector. Thank God we now have vibrant and progressive National Assembly members who are ready to work with the government in order to chart the way forward for the betterment of Nigerians. I am sure the National Assembly will surely cooperate with the Governors and the President in sourcing adequate fund for the power generation programme which is already in a crisis situation.

To start with, the Federal Government should set aside twenty (20 b) billion dollars from the external reserves or the excess crude fund to radically increase the power generation in Nigeria. We can then form a tri-partite regime consisting of the Federal Government of Nigeria on one hand, the technical partners (manufacturers/suppliers/ vendors) on the second and the finance partners (banks/finance institutions/capital markets worldwide) as the third party. Once non-returnable 20 billion dollars is set aside by the Federal Government, we can then task, solicit, plead, even beg the rest of the world, friends of Nigeria, Nigerians in Diaspora and the other two members of the tri-partite regime to source another thirty (30b) billion dollars and invest it in the energy sector which will surely continue to yield good dividend in the next 50 years and more. In this way we can have about 50 billion dollars to invest immediately in the generation of electricity.

The technical partners can then be saddled with the responsibilities to build, own, operate and transfer (BOOT) the technology to Nigerians over an agreed period of time based on the common principle of BOOT. The finance partners will hold the money in trust for the three parties and pay to the technical partners at every agreed milestone in the construction and development of the power plants, be it gas, hydro, coal, nuclear, solar or wind. The Federal Government will provide the necessary supervisory role and the regulatory functions.

If the Federal Government can set aside the 20 billion dollars and source another 30 billion dollars outside the government coffers which is not impossible, then the rest of the world will surely take us seriously and the assistance in form of investment will surely come. They will know that we are indeed ready to find solution to our energy problems. In the investment, Federal Government will have 40% shares while the other investors including Nigerians, local banks, Nigerians in Diaspora, International capital markets worldwide, technical partners and financial partners as a consortium, holds 60% shares.

This is surely an investment in the future of Nigeria and the country stands to benefit immensely from the investment.

(i) First of all, the country will always share 40% of the profit when returns on the investments start to roll in;

In fact, all the seven-point agenda of the present administration will be easy to realise. This is a task that must be done.

The 50 billion dollars should be able to produce 20,000 MW or more. Five (5) billion dollars should be set aside for generation of 2,400 MW from nuclear power plants. This is about 10% of the 50 billion dollars or 25% of the 20 billion dollars. It is not impossible to generate 2,400 MW of electricity from nuclear power within the next 7 years This is a challenge which can be overcome before the end of the second term of this present administration. In fact, it is possible for this administration to commission a number of these plants if decisive actions are taken immediately.

The financing of adequate power generation of about 20,000 to 30,000 MW before the magic year of 2020 requires radical approach In order to become one of the 20 most developed economy nations of the world by 2020, we will require adequate supply of electricity which can only be guaranteed by generation of more power from all the sources (gas 60%, hydro 20%, nuclear 10%, coal 5% and the rest such as solar, wind, etc 5%) as a starting point with the 50 billion dollars. We can start the construction of all the plants immediately which are mutually independent using well known, well proven and safe technologies. Nigeria is not alone in this power generation programme. There are well established and internationally renowned power suppliers. Nigerians are not going to reinvent the wheels. We cannot go for new and untested technology. We only need to take advantage of the exiting and safe technology as well as the competitiveness in the world market. .The success of these programmes is an insurance to the future and survival of this great nation called Nigeria.

The discussion is limited to power generation. Transmission and distribution are not discussed because they deserve exclusive write up. However, it is suggested that adequate fund to upgrade transmission and distribution should be sourced from the annual statutory fiscal allocation and through government private partnership’ State and local governments should also be brought in and part of their responsibilities will be to safeguard the facilities in their domains. In considering transmission and distribution, serious consideration should be given to energy demand distribution in Nigeria and location of plants should be such that it has meaningful impact on the communities where the sources are derived.

The Federal Government of Nigeria and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have identified nuclear power generation as a complementary and secured source that can contribute meaningfully to the electric power capacity required for industrialization in Nigeria by the targeted year 2020. We are using this opportunity to appeal to all the UN Member States with the appropriate technology and the required investment to support and fund the project and make 2020 a reality.

In concluding, there is an opportunity now for Nigeria to join the rest of the world in nuclear power generation programme. We should seize the opportunity and demonstrate to the rest of the world that we are very serious by taking prompt action. Nigeria’s performance in the conditions for participating in the nuclear power generation programme as evaluated above is satisfactory. Nigeria undoubtedly has the resources to successfully fund the programme and by our antecedence, the whole world has no cause to doubt our sincerity to abide by the international radiation safety regulations and safeguards. We already have the support of the UN through her Agency, the IAEA and we also enjoy the support of the international communities, so what are we waiting for?

Prompt action is needed by the President. The President should demonstrate to Nigerians and the rest of the world unequivocally that he is prepared to find solution to the energy demand crisis in Nigeria. The Federal Executive may have to form solid partnership with the Members of the National Assembly and National Council of States in order to be able to source for the required fund for the power generation programme,

A tri-partite regime consisting of the Federal Government, the finance partners (Banks/finance institutions/capital market worldwide) and the technical partners (manufacturers/suppliers/ vendors) is recommended for sourcing the fund and implementation of the programme. The fund, in the custody of the third party, will only be paid to the technical partners as soon as the project reaches each milestone as stated in the agreements. It is not impossible to generate 2,400 MW of electricity from nuclear power within the next 7 years, have improved supply of electricity, start collecting dividends on investment and some interest on the 50 billion dollars before the money is totally paid out.

The Federal Government is hereby advised to commence on the next project at the Sheda Science and Technology Complex (SHESTCO), Abuja, and construct 30 MW Nuclear Research Reactor for R&D in the areas of material science and technology (including material testing), capacity building, manpower development and training for the generation of electricity from nuclear power.

Definitely the nuclear power generation programme posses serious challenges to the Nigerians, and in particular the Nigerian Physicists. Therefore, Departments of Physics in our tertiary institutions should endeavour to include nuclear physics option in their programme and work in collaboration with the faculty of engineering in their respective tertiary institutions in order to attain the necessary critical human capacity that will be needed to man the nuclear power industry within the next 10 years.

Table: Nuclear power reactors in operation and under construction during 2000

	Reactors in operation		Reactors under construction		Total capacity for all sources e.g. gas, hydro, coal, nuclear, etc MW (e)	Supplied from NPP
Country	No. of Unit	Net capacity MW (e)	No. of units	Net capacity MW (e)	Population (millions)	% of Total
Argentina	2	935	1	692	12878.79 (41)	7.26
Armenia	1	376			1139.39(<3)	33.00
Belgium	7	5712			10065.20(10)	56.75
Brazil	2	1855			127931.03(192)	1.45
Bulgaria	6	3538			7862.22(7)	45.00
Canada	14	9998			84728.82(33)	11.80
China	3	2167	8	6420	182100.84(1330)	1.19
Czech Rep	5	2569	1	912	13886.49(10)	18.50
Finland	4	2656			8261.28(5)	32.15
France	59	63073			82556.28(64)	76.40
Germany	19	21122			69093.88(82)	30.57
Hungary	4	1755			4159.75(10)	42.19
India	14	2503			79713.38(1147)	3.14
Iran			2	2111
Japan	53	43491	3	3190	128595.51(127)	33.82
Korea Rep	16	12990	4	3820	31885.13(49)	40.74
Lithunia	2	2370			3216.61(<4)	73.68
Mexico	2	1360			35233.16(110)	3.86
Netherlands	1	449			11225.00(17)	4.00
Pakistan	2	425			25757.58(168)	1.65
Romania	1	650	1	650	5985.27(22)	10.86
Russia	29	19843	3	2825	132729.10(141)	14.95
South Afica	2	1800			27355.62(44)	6.58*
Slovak Rep	6	2408	2	776	4506.83(6)	53.43
Slovenia	1	676			1808.45(2)	37.38
Spain	9	7512			27187.84(40)	27.63
Sweden	11	9432			24184.62(9)	39.00
Switzerland	5	3192			8360.40(<8)	38.18*
**Taiwan	6	4884	2	2560	20659.90(23)	23.64
UK	35	12968			59106.65(61)	21.94
Ukraine	13	11207	4	3800	23703.47(46)	47.28
USA	104	97411			491230.46(304)	19.83

Total	448	351327	31	27756	1747108.93	857.85

* Estimate from data reported to the Power Reactor Information System at the IAEA