Angola Makes First Moves Towards Nuclear Power, with China's Support

May 7 (EIRNS)--Angola Minister of Science and Technology, João Baptista Ngandajina said recently that his "country has limitation in the production of electricity, so why not start thinking of projects that in the future could produce power from nuclear sources?" According to an online report by Macauhub Today. Macauhub is a news service of the Macau Government, used to foster business deals between the People's Republic of China and countries with Portuguese as an official language. "What we plan to do here is the scientific development linked to nuclear energy: Staff training, development of projects that help the economic and social development of the country," Ngandajina said.

Angola is now finalizing a Nuclear Energy Law to facilitate research projects and staff training, according to the report, which also points out that the new law is part of a plan to build nuclear power plants in Angola, supported by the People's Republic of China.

Ngandajina said that the focus on nuclear technology in Angola will initially be on research and development, while encouraging civil projects, via Agostinho Neto University, which has a lab to teach nuclear physics.

Ngandajina also noted the opportunity presented by this technology to train and specialize doctors at the National Oncology Center, and for projects in the area of controlling animal diseases, combating malaria and other illnesses.

The only nuclear power plants in the continent of Africa are at a two-unit site at Koeberg Nuclear Power Station near Capetown, South Africa. Initial steps in 1964 by then-President Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana to build a nuclear plant in Ghana were aborted when he was overthrown in a coup d'etat in 1966.