Interview with Ryan Collyer, Acting CEO, Rosatom Africa.
The use of isotopes for industry, medicine and agriculture is stated among the goals of Rosatom in Africa. What have you done by now in this area?
As you have correctly highlighted, Rosatom’s offering reaches far beyond electricity generation. One of the most exciting solutions that Rosatom has introduced to its international customers is the Centre of Nuclear Science and Technology (CNST). Rosatom is already actively involved in project implementation to build a CNST in Zambia. A year ago, a construction agreement was signed with Rwanda.
Rosatom is already actively involved in project implementation to build a CNST in Zambia. A year ago, a construction agreement was signed with Rwanda.
A CNST facility comprises a research reactor, a multi-purpose irradiation centre, a nuclear medicine centre and several laboratories, including a radioisotope production laboratory. It will allow the production of radioisotopes for widespread use in industry and agriculture as well as in healthcare, thus addressing the lack of cancer treatment, which is currently a major issue faced on the continent.
The CNST will also facilitate the analysis of elemental composition of ore and minerals and environmental samples, train highly qualified local personnel for the nuclear industry, contribute to digital technologies research and many others.
Have any of these technologies been implemented in Africa earlier?
It is important to note that nuclear is not new to Africa, and Africa is not new to nuclear. South Africa has been successfully operating Safari 1 research reactor for over 55 years and Koeberg nuclear power plant for over 34 years.
At one point, South Africa was the second-largest exporter of the life-saving medical isotope, Molybdenum 99, in the world. There are also currently research reactors in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria and Ghana.
At one point, South Africa was the second-largest exporter of the life-saving medical isotope, Molybdenum 99, in the world.
There is a very good example from South Africa in which nuclear technology was used to prevent the demise of the South African citrus industry, which was being severely threatened by the highly invasive False Codling Moth.
Local farmers used an innovative form of pest control known as Sterile Insect Technique (SIT), which utilizes ionizing radiation to sterilize a particular species of pest and therefore preventing them from multiplying naturally. The pest is bred on a large scale in captivity and is then sterilized. The sterile insects are then released systematically from the ground or by air into pest-infested areas, where they mate with the wild populations, which subsequently do not produce offspring. In the few cases when sterilized males and wild females do have an offspring, it is always completely sterile.
As a result, this technique can suppress and, in certain cases, completely eradicate populations of insect pests. This technique is among the most environmentally friendly control tactics available as it only targets one problem species of pest unlike insecticides which kill various species, and is applied as part of an integrated campaign to control insect populations. Employing this technique, Tanzania’s Zanzibar declared itself tsetse-free by 1997.
What does Rosatom have to propose to Africa? Which problems can be solved with your assistance? How can you assist in achieving SDGs?
Our technologies could assist African nations in growing their economies and improving standards of living for their people. On the energy side, we offer reactors ranging from big block pressurized water reactors with capacity of well over 1 GW to small modular reactors [SMRs] with an electrical capacity of 57MW.
On the non-energy side we offer a wide range of turn key research, medical and irradiation facilities. For each country, we tailor a solution based on their needs and ambitions.
Africa could benefit from our desalination facilities on the basis of both thermal and nuclear power plants, as it is capable of ensuring water supplies to areas with a population of up to 1 million people.
Nuclear medicine is another area where nuclear technologies are able to contribute directly to the well-being of African people. It’s estimated that nearly 12.4% of the 804 million of people in Africa will develop cancer before reaching the age of 75. This burden can be drastically reduced through early detection and the effective treatment.
Africa could benefit from our desalination facilities on the basis of both thermal and nuclear power plants, as it is capable of ensuring water supplies to areas with a population of up to 1 million people.
Nuclear technology assist in food security. Globally it is estimated that 20-45% of collected food is spoiled and cannot be used due to short shelf-life and pests, and Africa is no exception to this. Food irradiation services offered by Rosatom can extend shelf life, reduce spoilage, need for pesticides, additives, toxic chemical treatments, risk of food-borne diseases caused by micro-organisms such as Campylobacter, Salmonella, E. coli and Listeria (especially in meat, poultry and fish) and therefore extend export potential.
Which constraints do you face while preparing projects? For example, the CNST in Zambia.
New nuclear build programmes like most other mega projects face a number of challenges raging from financing to public acceptance. It is important however to understand that a nuclear power programme is a complex undertaking which requires extremely careful planning, preparation and investment in time, institutions and human resources.
The development of a nuclear power programme therefore does not happen overnight and can take a number of years to implement. All countries, which embark on the path towards the peaceful use of nuclear technologies, do so by adopting the framework of the IAEA Milestone Approach. The IAEA’s Milestones Approach provides newcomer countries with well-structured guidance and a clear to-do list, which gives them a clear understanding of how to safely and effectively implement and manage their civil nuclear programme.
It is important however to understand that a nuclear power programme is a complex undertaking which requires extremely careful planning, preparation and investment in time, institutions and human resources. The development of a nuclear power programme therefore does not happen overnight and can take a number of years to implement.
As a responsible nuclear vendor, Rosatom works with its clients at a scale and pace which will result in a safe, sustainable and affordable achievement of their nuclear ambitions.
Are your activities now somehow affected by the Russia-South Africa nuclear project blocked due to corruption allegations?
The 9600MW nuclear new build programme in South Africa was halted in 2017 due to various failures to comply to internal regulations in terms of the section 34 determination for nuclear in the country as well as the signing of various intergovernmental agreements with numerous vendor countries.
It is important to note that the programme did not make it past the Request for Information (RFI) stage, and Rosatom was only one of the vendors bidding for the project.
It is however important to note that the programme in South Africa, although downsized to 2500MW, has been restarted as the country grapples with power shortages brought on by ageing coal-fired power plants and intermittent energy sources.