Ghana gets nuclear power plant simulator

Ghana has secured a nuclear power plant simulator to prepare personnel for its anticipated nuclear power program. The simulation center at the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) enables personnel to practice operating a nuclear power plant and test procedures in a controlled setting prior to building an actual plant. Mr. George Kofi Appiah, Manager of Localisation and Stakeholder Support Centre at GAEC, stated that the simulator would help Ghana develop the skills necessary for safe nuclear facility operation.

Appiah revealed that Ghana joined the Foundational Infrastructure for Responsible Use of Small Modular Reactor Technology program in 2020/2021, obtaining this simulator to bolster human-capacity development. It is the sole one in Africa and one of a few worldwide. The center has already trained Ghanaian and African personnel, including those from Nigeria and Kenya.

The simulator is a computer-based system replicating the controls and operations of a nuclear power plant, not a nuclear reactor itself. When trained with the simulator, personnel face no differences when operating a live plant. The center will assist Ghana in meeting international safety standards and cultivating the safety culture necessary before establishing nuclear power plants.

The simulator is based on a small modular reactor (SMR), which employs smaller reactor units that can be combined to generate electricity on a larger scale. A 12-module plant could generate up to 924 megawatts. Appiah highlighted that the modular design facilitates easier maintenance, as individual units can be taken offline without shutting down the entire plant.

Additionally, the reactor features several safety measures, such as protective structures and passive safety measures that rely on natural forces like gravity to control the reactor when necessary. Control rods can absorb nuclear reaction particles and slow or halt the reaction during emergencies. Ghana's nuclear power program will necessitate a range of specialists, including nuclear engineers, reactor operators, chemists, and other technical personnel.

The simulation center will aid in building this workforce and ensure that safety remains a critical component of Ghana's preparations for nuclear power generation.