Ghana gets nuclear power plant simulator

Ghana has obtained a nuclear power plant simulator to train personnel and enhance safety readiness for its upcoming nuclear power program. Located at the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC), the simulation center enables personnel to practice operating a nuclear power plant and test procedures in a controlled setting before a real plant is constructed.

George Kofi Appiah, Manager of Localisation and Stakeholder Support Centre at GAEC, emphasized that the simulator would help Ghana develop essential skills for safely operating nuclear facilities. During a recent media tour, Appiah highlighted that Ghana joined the Foundational Infrastructure for Responsible Use of Small Modular Reactor Technology program in 2020/2021, acquiring the simulator to support human-capacity development.

He noted that the center is the only one in Africa and one of a few globally, serving the sub-region. The simulation center has already trained Ghanaian personnel and participants from other African nations, such as Nigeria and Kenya. The simulation center is not a nuclear reactor but a computer-based system that replicates the controls and operations of a nuclear power plant.

Appiah explained that the training provided by the simulator would be indistinguishable from actual plant operations. The center focuses on small modular reactors (SMRs), which use smaller, combinable reactor units to generate electricity on a larger scale. A 12-module plant could produce up to 924 megawatts of electricity. SMRs also offer advantages such as easier maintenance and built-in safety features, including protective structures and passive safety measures that rely on natural forces like gravity.

Control rods can absorb particles sustaining the nuclear reaction and slow or stop it during an emergency. Appiah emphasized that the simulation center would help Ghana build a skilled workforce, including nuclear engineers, reactor operators, chemists, and other technical personnel, ensuring that safety remains a priority in Ghana's preparations for nuclear power generation.