Why small modular nuclear reactors adoption will tackle perennial power shortage

Perennial power shortage that plagues Nigeria and most African nations have given rise to the call for the use of Small Modular nuclear Reactors (SMR) to rescue the continent’s economy from collapse.

Rosatom, Russia’s state run nuclear energy corporation, says adoption of Small Modular Reactors can be a good alternative to diesel generators, providing reliable power supply and preventing harmful emissions at a competitive price.

Ryan Collyer, acting CEO, Rosatom, Central and Southern Africa, observes that there is a global shift toward nuclear, not only in the energy sector but also to address a myriad of other issues.

Collyer opines that SMRS offer unique benefits such as easy grid connection, flexibility in terms of placement, multipurpose application and possible integration with renewables.

In a statement made available to Businessday, Collyer states that SMRS also offer lower capital investment, which can be crucial point while taking a decision of their deployment.

Shedding light on ROSATOM’S advancements in SMR technology, he highlights Russia’s RITM-200, an advanced pressurised-water reactor that incorporates all the best features from its predecessors.

Collyer highlights the main advantages of RITM200 reactor to include: costefficiency, small size and safety. Russia’s RITM- 200 reactor, he notes, was designed for nuclear icebreakers, land-based small Nuclear Power Plants and floating nuclear power plants.

According to Collyer, ROSATOM has already constructed six RITM- 200 nuclear powered reactors with two on board Russia’s nuclear powered Arktika icebreaker.

Collyer further discloses Russia was working on the next generation of the offshore nuclear power plants as an optimised floating power unit (OFPU).