What the World Nuclear Outlook Report Means for Ghana’s Nuclear Energy Ambition

The release of the World Nuclear Outlook Report by the World Nuclear Association comes at a decisive moment in global energy policy. Around the world, governments are rethinking how to guarantee reliable electricity, reduce carbon emissions, support industrial growth and protect national energy security. In this changing landscape, nuclear energy is moving from the margins of climate and energy debates into the centre of long-term development planning.

For Ghana, the report should not be read merely as a global nuclear industry publication. It should be read as a strategic policy signal. The global nuclear sector is entering a new phase of expansion, and countries that prepare early will be better placed to benefit from technology partnerships, financing opportunities, supply chain development, skills training and industrial transformation.

The report notes that global nuclear generation reached a record high of 2,667 TWh in 2024, surpassing the previous peak recorded in 2006. Yet nuclear power still contributes about 9% of global electricity, compared with about 17% in the mid-1990s. This decline in share does not mean nuclear energy has become less important. Rather, it shows that global electricity demand has grown faster than nuclear deployment. This is an important lesson for Ghana and Africa: future energy demand will not remain static. Population growth, urbanisation, industrialisation, digitalisation, electric mobility and climate adaptation will all require more electricity, not less.

The report’s projection that global nuclear capacity could reach 1,446 GWe by 2050 is particularly significant. This exceeds the approximate 1,200 GWe target established under the Declaration to Triple Nuclear Energy, launched at COP28. Ghana’s inclusion among the countries that have endorsed this declaration places the country within a growing international coalition that recognises nuclear energy as part of the response to climate change, energy insecurity and sustainable development.

However, the report also carries an important warning. Global nuclear ambition is rising, but ambition alone does not build nuclear power plants. Many national targets are not yet fully supported by concrete projects, financing structures, supply chain capacity or detailed implementation pathways. This is perhaps the most important lesson for Ghana. Political commitment must now be converted into programme discipline, institutional coordination and project execution.

Ghana has made commendable progress in developing the foundations of a nuclear power programme. The country has worked with the International Atomic Energy Agency, established key institutions, advanced regulatory development, engaged in public communication and made progress through the IAEA milestones approach. These steps are important. But the next stage of Ghana’s nuclear journey will be more demanding. It will require firm decisions on site development, financing models, vendor engagement, grid readiness, human resource development, emergency preparedness, radioactive waste management, nuclear safety, nuclear security and safeguards.

From the perspective of the Institute of Economic Affairs, Ghana’s nuclear programme must be understood not only as an energy project, but as a national development strategy. Nuclear power can support baseload electricity supply, industrialisation, energy security, climate commitments and technological upgrading. But these benefits will only be realised if the programme is governed transparently, financed sustainably and implemented through strong national institutions.

The report also highlights the changing technology landscape. While most reactors currently operating and under construction are large pressurised water reactors, the future nuclear market is becoming more diverse. Small modular reactors, microreactors, high-temperature gas-cooled reactors and molten salt reactor concepts are attracting growing interest. These technologies could support not only grid electricity, but also industrial process heat, desalination, hydrogen production, mining operations, data centres and other strategic applications.

This is especially relevant for Africa. Many African countries face weak grids, rising industrial demand, climate vulnerability and the need for reliable power to support economic transformation. A future African nuclear strategy may therefore involve both large reactors for national grids and smaller reactor technologies for specific industrial or regional applications. Ghana must therefore avoid a narrow view of nuclear energy and instead develop a flexible policy framework that can respond to technological change.

The report’s emphasis on financing is equally important. Nuclear power requires long-term capital, policy stability and investor confidence. For Ghana, the financing question must be addressed early and openly. The country must assess possible models, including sovereign financing, vendor financing, public-private partnerships, multilateral support, climate finance and regional power market arrangements. Without a credible financing strategy, technical readiness alone will not be enough.

Public trust will also be decisive. Nuclear energy cannot succeed on technical arguments alone. Citizens must understand why Ghana is considering nuclear power, how safety and security will be assured, how radioactive waste will be managed, and how the programme will contribute to national development. This requires continuous public education, not occasional communication. It also requires independent policy institutions, academia, civil society, traditional authorities, the media and local communities to be meaningfully engaged.

The World Nuclear Outlook Report therefore strengthens the case for a more serious national conversation on Ghana’s nuclear future. The question is no longer simply whether nuclear power is desirable. The real question is whether Ghana can build the institutional, financial, technical and social readiness required to deploy nuclear power safely, securely, affordably and sustainably.

For Ghana, the way forward is clear. The country must accelerate site-related studies, strengthen the independence and capacity of the regulator, clarify the role and financing of the owner/operator, prepare the grid for future nuclear integration, deepen local skills development, and align nuclear power with industrial policy. Ghana must also position itself within the emerging African nuclear landscape, working with countries such as Nigeria, Kenya, Rwanda, Morocco, Senegal and South Africa to shape a continental nuclear development agenda.

The global nuclear revival is already underway. The countries that benefit most will be those that move beyond declarations and build credible national programmes. Ghana has started the journey. The task now is to move from readiness discussions to implementation discipline.

The World Nuclear Outlook Report should therefore be seen as both encouragement and caution. It confirms that nuclear energy is gaining renewed global momentum. But it also reminds Ghana that success will depend on preparation, coordination, financing and public trust. As the world moves toward a low-carbon and energy-secure future, Ghana must ensure that its nuclear ambition becomes a practical national development instrument, not merely a policy aspiration.

About the Author

Raymond Agalga is a Nuclear Policy Analyst at the Institute of Economic Affairs, Ghana, working on nuclear energy policy, nuclear governance, energy security, nuclear safety and security, safeguards, and Ghana’s nuclear power readiness. His work focuses on strengthening evidence-based policy dialogue on Ghana’s nuclear energy programme and Africa’s wider nuclear development agenda.

The views expressed in this article are intended to contribute to informed public policy dialogue on nuclear energy, energy security and sustainable development in Ghana and Africa.