Niger to build nuclear plant in medium to long term

Reuters - 11/02/09
jeudi 12 février 2009

Adolphe Gbaguidi Waly, an advisor to the minister of mines and energy, said nuclear power would be part of the country’s plans to increase energy independence in Niger.

"Among other solutions to solve the energy shortage in the region it was decided to build a nuclear plant ... not soon, but in a medium to long term," Waly told Reuters on the sidelines of a mining conference. [ID:nL9472559]

Landlocked and on the southern side of the Sahara, Niger is one of the world’s poorest countries. It imports around 80 percent of its electricity from neighbouring Nigeria, Africa’s top producer of crude oil.

Waly said the country has not yet decided on a specific way to go forward, but would ask South Africa, the only country on the continent with a nuclear plant so far, to help.

"Nuclear is a solution being discussed now. We haven’t yet looked at details, but in a very short time we should come up with a way and the process to go forward and start approaching countries who are using nuclear power," he said.

He said finances were an obstacle to be overcome.

Niger has also discussed the potential of a plant with France’s Areva (CEPFi.PA) which it awarded a licence to operate at its Niger’s Imouraren mine. The mine will more than double the country’s uranium output and make it the world’s second biggest producer after Canada.

Insecurity in northern Niger, where Tuareg rebels are fighting government forces, has stifled investment in the vast desert nation’s mining industry, but Waly said it was no longer a major hinderance to uranium prospecting. [ID:nLU229382] "The situation on the ground is improving ... there are no more disruptions to operations in the area as the necessary steps have been taken to prevent any major problems," he said, without giving any details.

(Reporting by Agnieszka Flak ; editing by Guy Dresser)