Zimbabwe Considers Nuclear Energy To End Load Shedding

However,
power
generation
at
the
Kariba
plant
has
been
severely
limited
by
recurrent
droughts
that
have
affected
water
levels.

During
a
recent
Question
and
Answer
session
in
the
National
Assembly,
Energy
and
Power
Development
Minister
Edgar
Moyo
said
that
the
government
is
engaging
the
IAEA
to
explore
prospects
of
nuclear
energy
for
peaceful
purposes.
Said
Moyo
(via The
Herald):

As
Zimbabwe,
we
have
expressed
our
interest
to
the
IAEA
our
desire
to
get
into
nuclear
energy
for
peaceful
purposes.
They
are
with
us
and
they
are
taking
us
through.

Committees
have
been
set
up,
which
are
looking
into
that
and
there
are
milestones
that
we
have
to
meet
as
a
country
before
we
get
to
the
stage
of
developing
small
modular
reactors
so
that
our
contribution
of
clean
energy
mix
is
heightened.

So,
we
hope
these
are
some
of
the
things,
programmes
and
projects
which
are
going
to
increase
our
contribution
to
the
energy
mix
of
clean
energy.

Nuclear
power
generates
minimal
greenhouse
gas
emissions
compared
to
fossil
fuels,
making
it
an
appealing
option
for
mitigating
climate
change
impacts.

Nuclear
fuel
boasts
a
high
energy
density,
meaning
that
a
small
quantity
can
produce
a
substantial
amount
of
energy,
thereby
decreasing
the
demand
for
extensive
fuel
resources.

However,
high-profile
accidents
such
as
Chernobyl
and
Fukushima
have
heightened
public
concerns
regarding
the
safety
of
nuclear
power
plants
and
the
potential
for
catastrophic
incidents.

Furthermore,
the
disposal
of
spent
nuclear
fuel
and
other
radioactive
waste
poses
a
significant
challenge,
necessitating
secure
and
effective
long-term
storage
solutions.