Power-Gen Africa 2017 is Africa’s premier electricity industry event covering the power sector strategy, generation technology, renewable energy, transmission and distribution. Over 3,000 energy industry representatives visited this year’s event. Rosatom was also among the guests to present its latest energy solutions and technology. According to Viktor Polikarpov, Rosatom’s Vice President for Sub-Saharan Africa, the Russian company possesses technology that can fully satisfy energy demand on the African continent. With population booming, many African countries have taken interest in the nuclear energy development.

Rosatom also presented a generation technology involving small hydro power plants (mini-HPPs). A mini-HPP is a stand-alone, highly efficient source of electric power. Thanks to advanced solutions used in mini-HPPs, they need no dam construction and can be installed at outlets of water treatment facilities.

Many countries have demonstrated interest to this power generation technology. A good example is a contract recently signed with a Georgian company. According to it, Rosatom’s nuclear engineering division AtomEnergoMash is to supply Georgia with containerized small hydro power plants. Georgia’s International Energy Co., Ltd. will purchase a pilot plant to be shipped later this year, followed by more plants varying in capacity from 0.6 MW to 2 MW. A pilot project is also being developed to supply green energy sources to the mountain valley near Almaty (Kazakhstan) where the world-famous Medeu skating rink is located. The relevant agreement has already been signed, with engineering solutions now under development. Armenia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Latin America and African countries have expressed interest to Rosatom’s new product.

Mini hydro power plants have been developed by Ganz EEM, a Hungary-based subsidiary of AtomEnergoMash (Rosatom’s engineering division).

Building trust

As part of Power-Gen Africa, a memorandum of understanding and cooperation was signed between Rusatom International Network and the African Young Generation in Nuclear. The parties will jointly work on increasing public acceptance of nuclear energy in Africa. The memorandum also provides for joint support of social and educational programs for young talents, international nuclear energy exhibitions and conferences, knowledge exchange, and networking.

“It is very important to develop relations between Russia and African countries. This memorandum is a solid step forward on the way towards public awareness of nuclear technology and raising public acceptance of nuclear power in Africa. It also offers new opportunities for young professionals,” Viktor Polikarpov noted.