4 Nuclear Energy & Energy Transitions …
115
increased focus on nuclear safety, environmental protection and comprehensive liability regimes in determining how nuclear victims are to be
compensated or who bears the burden of compensation.
6
Moreover, there exists an active nuclear science and technology
sector in Africa, and this includes several research reactors, and with
many governments expressing interest in starting commercial nuclear
programmes.
7 Several States in SSA are currently exploring or investing
in the use of nuclear energy to meet the enormous demands of power for
their populations. Such countries include Uganda, Ethiopia, Tanzania,
Namibia, Rwanda and Zambia, among others, with South Africa being
the only country in the region which already has a commercial nuclear
power plant. Globally, there are some countries like France which are
heavily reliant on nuclear energy, and these are used as benchmarks by
the rest of the world in determining how they can manage the nuclear
industry successfully.
The author acknowledges that the development of nuclear power
energy requires several safeguards like proper technology, sound
financing sources, skilled workforce, and goodwill of the people, among
others. However, this chapter is majorly limited to legal and policy safeguards on nuclear safety, social and environmental protection. It tackles
one major question: What are the critical legal and regulatory issues to
be addressed for the active development and management of the nuclear
energy power industry in SSA? This chapter thus argues that aligning
Africa’s policies with the global nuclear legal regimes is crucial in determining the region’s energy future. Further, that effective policy choices
can guide the continent to a more inclusive and sustainable energy future
and accelerate its economic and industrial development
8 while meeting
the objectives of the climate change regime.
6 See Abigail Sah, Jessica Lovering, Omaro Maseli and Aishwarya Saxena, Atoms for Africa:
Is There a Future for Civil Nuclear Energy in Sub-Saharan Africa? 2018, CGD Policy Paper.
Washington, DC: Center for Global Development, https://www.cgdev.org/publication/atoms-afr
ica-there-future-civilnuclear-energy-sub-saharan-africa.
7 Ibid., at p. 5.
8 International Energy Agency, Africa Energy Outlook 2019, 2019, World Energy Outlook Special
Report, p. 18.
115
increased focus on nuclear safety, environmental protection and comprehensive liability regimes in determining how nuclear victims are to be
compensated or who bears the burden of compensation.
6
Moreover, there exists an active nuclear science and technology
sector in Africa, and this includes several research reactors, and with
many governments expressing interest in starting commercial nuclear
programmes.
7 Several States in SSA are currently exploring or investing
in the use of nuclear energy to meet the enormous demands of power for
their populations. Such countries include Uganda, Ethiopia, Tanzania,
Namibia, Rwanda and Zambia, among others, with South Africa being
the only country in the region which already has a commercial nuclear
power plant. Globally, there are some countries like France which are
heavily reliant on nuclear energy, and these are used as benchmarks by
the rest of the world in determining how they can manage the nuclear
industry successfully.
The author acknowledges that the development of nuclear power
energy requires several safeguards like proper technology, sound
financing sources, skilled workforce, and goodwill of the people, among
others. However, this chapter is majorly limited to legal and policy safeguards on nuclear safety, social and environmental protection. It tackles
one major question: What are the critical legal and regulatory issues to
be addressed for the active development and management of the nuclear
energy power industry in SSA? This chapter thus argues that aligning
Africa’s policies with the global nuclear legal regimes is crucial in determining the region’s energy future. Further, that effective policy choices
can guide the continent to a more inclusive and sustainable energy future
and accelerate its economic and industrial development
8 while meeting
the objectives of the climate change regime.
6 See Abigail Sah, Jessica Lovering, Omaro Maseli and Aishwarya Saxena, Atoms for Africa:
Is There a Future for Civil Nuclear Energy in Sub-Saharan Africa? 2018, CGD Policy Paper.
Washington, DC: Center for Global Development, https://www.cgdev.org/publication/atoms-afr
ica-there-future-civilnuclear-energy-sub-saharan-africa.
7 Ibid., at p. 5.
8 International Energy Agency, Africa Energy Outlook 2019, 2019, World Energy Outlook Special
Report, p. 18.