The New Nuclear Watch Institute (NNWI) have published the October edition of their ‘Yes to Nuclear’ Perspectives initiative. In the previous month we explored the role of nuclear energy in facilitating human and economic development. This month, we focus on nuclear development in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), the role of nuclear energy in the pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and the contribution of nuclear technology to the field of medicine.
This month, our SDG Perspective covers the 1st, 11th, 12th and 16th SDGs which are no poverty, sustainable cities and communities, responsible consumption and production, and peace and justice through strong institutions, respectively. The reliability of nuclear technology can help with the provision of food and clean water, housing and electrification of transport systems without contributing to air pollution.
Developing countries, particularly those in SSA, are recognising nuclear power as a reliable energy source and are taking steps towards developing their nuclear capacity. While inadequate infrastructure and high costs present significant barriers, they can be bypassed through strategic partnerships and small modular reactors (SMRs).
Nuclear technology has applications beyond energy provision. This month we explore its contribution to the field of medicine through advanced diagnostic and therapy techniques. Nuclear technology has also become a vital part of medical treatment.
SDG Perspective
Energy poverty poses a barrier to both human health and economic mobility. Universal access to access to low-cost, clean electricity from nuclear energy can help developing nations with the provision of basic needs such as food and clean water, create access to educational and economic opportunities and develop critical infrastructure to promote sustainable development.
Since 2008, over half the world’s population has lived in urban areas. This figure is only predicted to increase, demonstrating the need for adequate urban planning to preclude cities becoming unsafe and dysfunctional environments. To achieve this, cities need good housing, reliable and affordable energy and a good transport network. Nuclear power plants (NPP) provide affordable, reliable electricity which is well-suited to supplying cities where there is a high demand for energy.
A report from the International Energy Agency (IEA) published a report stating that the mineral demand for low-carbon power generation to meet climate goals will triple by 2040. This demand is mainly driven by material-intensive power generation sources. Through nuclear energy’s relatively low material input, the efficiency of power plants can increase, and the number of materials and minerals required will be reduced even further.
Nuclear technology towards peaceful pursuits has significantly expanded for the generation of electricity. Today, nuclear electricity represents around 10% of electricity consumption. Nuclear energy use has diversified into strategic areas and there are prospects for further development to meet future challenges and growing needs for water, non-electrical power, food and medical applications.
Nuclear production in sub-Saharan Africa
According to the IEA, approximately 620 million people in SSA do not have access to electricity. Alarmingly, the 48 countries of SSA have a combined installed capacity equivalent to that of Spain, indicating an enormous disparity between developed and developing nations.
While countries in SSA have enormous potential in the fields of renewable energy through hydro and solar power, they are unable to unlock this potential as these sources are intermittent and risks energy shortages without a clean and reliable backload source, such as nuclear energy.
Partnerships and negotiations between SSA countries and nuclear vendors, such as Russia’s Rosatom, China’s CGN and France’s EDF indicate the growing recognition of nuclear energy as a solution to these problems. However, conventional NPPs are not viable solutions in many of these countries due to their lack of capacity. The International Atomic Energy Agency recommends that the capacity of a country’s power grid be 10 times that of an NPP in order for it to be operated safely.
Fortunately, a solution presents itself in the form of SMRs. These reactors have an average capacity of 50-100 MW per unit, can be mass-produced and can be deployed in remote areas. Crucially, SMRs are easier to finance and faster to build than conventional NPPs.
While an attractive option, SMRs represent an advanced form of technology, raising the issue of barriers to accessibility to countries that don’t have any experience in the field. This demonstrates the need for help in the form of support structures from developed countries, such as a nuclear regulatory framework and help with building infrastructure and training personnel.
Some nuclear vendors offer training solutions for newcomer countries. Research reactors are one such solution that can make it possible for newcomer countries to explore various energy and non-energy applications of nuclear technologies, including medicine, irradiation, and desalination. A country has the option to buy a simple research reactor from enterprises in South Korea or Argentina or can opt for a more complex, turnkey solution like Rosatom’s Centre for Nuclear Science and Technology, which includes scientific laboratories and can also be equipped with other facilities.
Nuclear applications in medicine
The most frequently cited contribution of nuclear energy is the production of electricity; however, most people are unaware of the significant impact nuclear energy can have in the field of medicine through advanced diagnostic and therapy techniques.
Advances in nuclear medicine have contributed heavily to diagnostic techniques through the use of radiopharmaceuticals that emit gamma rays from within the body. This treatment helps trace diseases and abnormalities in the human body at an early stage. Nuclear medicine is now accepted as a vital part of healthcare and continues to be developed through technology such as Positron Emission Topography (PET), which is used for effective and non-evasive cancer diagnosis.
Another medical technique stemming from nuclear technology is the utilisation of iodine-131 towards treating cancers of the thyroid gland using beta radiation. It also has additional applications including diagnosing abnormal liver function and renal blood flow. I-131 is convenient as it combines easily with other elements, like sodium, for easy ingestion as a pill or liquid. Efficacy studies have shown that thyroid cancer is now one of the most curable cancers with over a 90% survival rate, due in part to advances in nuclear science.