Türkiye to host the next Nuclear Business Platform this summer, Organizers
By Aysha Nabukeera
A three-day international conference on Africa Nuclear Business Platform (AFNBP 2023) has ended in Uganda’s capital, Kampala.
Inaugurated by Uganda’s president Yoweri Museveni, the event attracted delegates from Unites States of America, Europe, Asia, Africa and South America, to discuss nuclear energy developments in Africa and explore areas of strategic collaborations to move African countries’ nuclear industry forward.
President Museveni said that Uganda descended into a power crisis in 2005, following a prolonged draught that affected water levels at Owen falls dam, this resulted in a decline in hydropower generation output. Since then, his government resolved to diversify the national energy mix, which is now mainly based on hydroelectricity, to the introduction of nuclear power. Seven sub-Saharan African countries, including Uganda, Ghana, Nigeria, Sudan, Rwanda, Kenya and Zambia have already committed to having nuclear energy as part of their energy mix between 2030 to 2037.
Zaf Coelho, the Managing Director of Nuclear Business Platform said that Türkiye will host the next Nuclear Business Platform this summer, in partnership with Nuclear Technical Support Joint Stock Company (NUTED A.Ş.) in Antalya, the Mediterranean coast city in south-western Türkiye.
He added that the country provides lessons for African countries, considering to pursue nuclear energy. “Türkiye is one of the fastest growing markets globally, and its nuclear energy journey is a befitting example to African countries aspiring to access and gain insights in nuclear market,” Zaf said. “Like Türkiye, newcomer states to nuclear energy will create jobs, development of nuclear education, and many other positive effects,” he added.
Currently in Africa, only South Africa has an active nuclear power plant, while Russia’s state-owned energy corporation Rosatom commenced construction of Egypt’s first nuclear facility last year. Uganda is set to become Africa’s third nuclear-p
