On the morning of July 30, gongs and drums resonated with songs and dances in Ghana Atomic Energy Commission. Chinese Ambassador to Ghana H.E.Shi Ting Wang, together with Ghana’s Vice President H.E. Mahamudu Bawumia, Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation Hon. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, and Minister of State of Public Procurement Hon. Sarah Adwoa Safo attended the Commission of the Low Enriched Uranium Research Reactor and International MNSR Training Center and Radiological Medical Science Laboratories (RAMSRI). A total of 500 people attended the event including CEO of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, representatives of diplomatic corps and local chiefs.
Ambassador Wang pointed out that the conversion of Ghana’s Research Reactor Core from the High Enriched Uranium to the Low Enriched Uranium (LEU) is a successful multilateral cooperation between China, the United States, Russia and Ghana under the coordination of the International Atomic Energy Agency. It has important demonstrative significance for LEU-fueled MNSR and nuclear non-proliferation international cooperation. In December 2018, China completed the LEU-fueled program in Nigeria based on the successful experience of Ghana model. It once again fulfilled the solemn commitment made by Chinese President H.E. Xi Jinping at the Fourth Nuclear Security Summit in 2016 and demonstrated China’s resolution to fulfill its international obligations and build an international nuclear security system.
Ambassador Wang said that energy shortage is a key problem which hinders Africa’s development. China, with the vision of innovative, coordinated, green, open and shared development, is willing to encourage more Chinese companies to invest in Africa’s energy sector. Under the Forum of China Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and the Belt and Road Initiative, China will support Africa’s capacity building on energy sector and explore trilateral cooperation in Africa on the basis of respecting the will of African countries. These efforts will inject surging power for Africa’s sustainable development.
Vice President Bawumia spoke highly of China's support and assistance for the development of nuclear energy in Ghana. He said that the LEU-fueled reactor made by China has not only operated without any accidents for 20 years, but also helped Ghana accumulate experience and cultivate talents which laid a good foundation for Ghana to build its own nuclear power plant. Ghana is willing to continue and strengthen cooperation with China, the United States, Russia, India and other parties under the guidance of the International Atomic Energy Agency to ensure the nuclear energy development will march along the peaceful, safe and sustainable direction.
After the speech, Ambassador Wang and the Vice President Bawumia, Minister Frimpong-Boateng, Minister Safo and other guests jointly unveiled the Ghana LEU Research Reactor and International MNSR Training Center and RAMSRI Laboratories and visited the Ghana LEU Research Reactor and gamma ray irradiation devices.
The Ghana LEU-fueled reactor was designed and built by the China Institute of Atomic Energy in 1995 and played an important role in Ghana's nuclear energy research and personnel training. In 2014, under the coordination of the IAEA, CNNC began to convert the HEU-fueled reactor into LEU-fueled reactor. On August 10, 2017, the Ghana LEU-fueled reactor was fully operational.