Page 55 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 23
P. 55
Economy
have expressed interest
in starting nuclear power
programmes.
MMSEZ is the perfect project to
catalyze a brand new trend for the
operating of all Africa`s Special
Economic Zones using the very
latest in nuclear technology,
the Small Modular Reactor. If
MMSEZ is to revolutionize the
regional economy then let it be
the first SEZ to revolutionize
flammable lithium. fossil fuel use on the continent.
how electricity for industrial
parks is generated.
It is unfortunate that MMSEZ The irony is that African
is to be forced to abandon the economies are now looking It is also now possible that
powering of the industrial park at Climate Change mitigation countries in Africa that have
operations with local coal. energy solutions that could soon large deposits of coal can
make Europe look un-advanced.
It is thanks to leadership such The South African invention consider using the latest
technology, that being HELE
as South Africa`s Energy and of the Small Modular Reactor coal ( High Efficiency Low
Mineral Resource Minister, is an energy solution that is Emission) which is the cleanest
Gwede Mantashe, that the gaining interest from around process of burning coal. Coal
continent`s largest economy the world but particularly in byproducts have many vital
will continue to use coal until Africa where governments are uses, namely steel and cement.
such time as an energy transition increasingly signing up for
can be achieved. nuclear energy, the latest being Integrating Economies
Minister Mantashe makes the Burkina Faso. According to the
sound point : Gwede Mantashe IAEA ( International Atomic MMSEZ is positioned near
says the energy transition and Energy Agency) 12 countries, the Beitbridge border crossing
causes of climate change are nearly one third of the African into Zimbabwe. Beitbridge
being “weaponised” against states, have approached them is the second busiest port of
development on the African recently to request feasibility entry into South Africa and is
continent through its natural studies, namely, Ghana, Egypt, being expanded. This is a very
fossil-fuel endowments. Morocco, Kenya, Niger, critical facility which opens up
Nigeria, Sudan, Algeria,
Sub-Saharan Africa consumes Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia and South Africa to Zimbabwe and
Sub Saharan Africa, serving
roughly the equivalent of Rwanda. as the N-S corridor to inter-
electricity as Spain. Africa is African trade. Modernization
responsible for 3% of global The World Nuclear Association of infrastructure will among
CO2 production. Those report that in addition to those others facilitate quick access to
statistics alone should be 12 countries Libya, Senegal, international markets through
enough to finish any debate on Tanzania, Namibia and Ethiopia
WWW.MSINGIAFRIKAMAGAZINE.COM ISSUE 23 | JANUARY 2024 55
