A new advocacy group advancing Africa’s need to adopt multiple/mixed sources of energy including nuclear without hindrance and any influencers finding excuses, as is always the case, has hit the world stage with a bang. The RePlanet Africa, a grassroots movement founded a few years ago, strongly argues that Africa should pursue in earnest, a mixed energy package, without undue influence to governments and the people. Instead, they argue, governments should seek substantial funding from the World Bank and other multilateral financial institutions, to equip the continent with adequate power, not merely lighting bulbs.
Ugandan journalist, Patricia Nanteza is RePlanet’s Director for Africa, and until recently was the Associate Director [in Africa] for the New York-based Alliance for Science (AfS). “Energy is not only about bulbs lighting homes, streets or offices, but a whole lot of mixed energy sources that power our cooking and industries at the least cost possible to all, in a very environmental-friendly and sustainable manner,” she says curtly.
RePlanet Africa whose mission is to “liberate nature and elevate humanity [in a multifaceted approach], aims to harness clean energy and combat climate change; enhance food production while safeguarding our land,” explains Nanteza, who also served at the Ibadan-based International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA).
She says her organization also advocates for revitalizing of African cities with green initiatives and protect our forests, for policies and technologies that facilitate this transition and affirm the universal right to prosperity and well-being for all humanity.
She says the new organization, is dedicated to advocating for policies that reduce the cost of power, raise awareness about the benefits of renewable energy, and support local communities in adopting sustainable energy sources and practices.
In their pursuit for an integrated clean energy system, RePlanet Africa has challenged Greenpeace—one of the global influential anti-nuclear activist organizations—to rethink its opposition to carbon-free nuclear power.
“Dear Greenpeace, we write to you as concerned citizens from Africa, with a deep-rooted interest in the sustainable development of our continent. We appreciate the commendable work you have undertaken over the years to safeguard the environment and advocate for a greener and cleaner world. Nevertheless, today, we request a re-evaluation of your stance on carbon-free nuclear power. We implore you to reconsider your opposition to nuclear, cease your endless campaigns designed to incite and misinform and stop all self-defeating court cases,” Ms Nanteza writes.
She further argues that Africa, endowed with abundant natural resources, notably extensive uranium reserves, stands at a crossroads. Despite this wealth, nearly 600 million Africans lack access to reliable energy sources, and numerous African nations grapple with debilitating energy shortages, impeding both social and economic progress…… while we acknowledge that your opposition to nuclear energy has predominantly focused on Europe, but we wish to emphasize that what affects Europe sooner or letter affects Africa.
“Your stance on nuclear energy, which has the potential to help Africa bridge the energy deficit and empower African countries to achieve a sustainable and prosperous future, is a manifest contradiction of your intentions for a carbon-free world.” There is irrefutable scientific evidence, she adds, that nuclear energy offers a viable alternative to fossil fuels, notorious contributors to carbon emissions and climate change.
Paradoxically, by opposing nuclear power which emits minimal carbon dioxide during operation, you inadvertently obstruct Africa’s effective transition from fossil fuels and alleviation of the strain on the forests powering most kitchens on the continent through charcoal and wood. “……we acknowledge the concerns regarding safety and waste disposal in the context of nuclear energy. However, we urge you to recognize that the nuclear industry has made notable strides in waste reduction and efficient disposal methods. In fact, advances in reprocessing technologies and the creation of advanced reactors promise effective long-term solutions to nuclear waste concerns,” Ms Nanteza states.
We dare say that engaging with African nations in developing nuclear energy programs would allow you to influence these efforts more meaningfully to ensure stringent waste management and disposal protocols from the outset, rather than obstructing the potential of technology to mitigate climate change and drive growth.
She further tells Greenpeace to acknowledge that Africa’s renewable energy potential alone cannot meet current and projected energy demand. While solar, wind and hydro-electric power are integral components of Africa’s sustainable energy mix, they are often constrained by geography and weather conditions, exposing African economies to intermittent power supply. Nuclear energy, with its consistent and base-load supply, can complement these renewable sources, help stabilize the grid and ensure energy security for African communities.”
We implore you, she adds, to reconsider your opposition to nuclear energy. Your arguments against nuclear clearly contradict scientific evidence and ignore advancements in technology.
Nanteza further argues that the development of nuclear power presents a unique opportunity for Africa to leverage its resources, bridge the energy gap, combat climate change, and stimulate socio-economic growth. RePlanet argues that the move will hurt African countries some of whom are now actively seeking partnerships to set up nuclear plants of their own.
RePlanet encourages Greenpeace to engage with African nations in developing nuclear energy programs, in part, to ensure the implementation of stringent waste management and disposal protocols from the outset.
They implored Greenpeace to reconsider its opposition to nuclear energy, emphasizing that the arguments against it are not grounded in evidence and scientific truth.
In their letter, RePlanet Africa questioned Greenpeace’s stance against nuclear power, which emits minimal carbondioxide during operation. Ms Nanteza writes: “In so doing [Greecepeace’s opposition], you unwittingly obstruct Africa’s effective transition from fossil fuels and alleviation of the strain on the forests powering most kitchens on the continent through charcoal and wood.”
RePlanet’s letter is also backed up by other two letters also to Greenpeace from Kenya-based Eastern African Radiation Association and the Kenyan Young Generation in Nuclear.
According to Kenya’s The Star newspaper, the three organizations called on Greenpeace to drop its opposition to nuclear energy, emphasizing its potential to bridge the energy deficit on the continent and to empower African nations to achieve a prosperous future.
“Despite Africa’s abundant natural resources, including extensive uranium reserves, approximately 600 million Africans still lack access to reliable energy sources, resulting in inordinate reliance on wood fuel that is straining our forest cover and exacerbating climate change,” the two-page letter adds.
The Star says in February this year, Greenpeace dragged the European Commission to the European Court of Justice over the inclusion of nuclear energy in the EU’s list of sustainable investments.
Greenpeace requested a formal review in September of the Commission’s decision, arguing that the EU had violated its climate laws by labelling some gas and nuclear energy investments as green.
The renowned activist organization states on her website, that it has always fought – and will continue to fight – vigorously against nuclear power because it is an unacceptable risk to the environment and to humanity. “The only solution is to halt the expansion of all nuclear power…,” states the global activist body. But RePlanet Africa further cautions the environmental activist body that their actions undermine efforts to save African forests known to power most kitchens on the continent through charcoal and wood.
While noting Greenpeace’s initial reservations on nuclear safety and waste management, the Open Letter challenged Greenpeace to recognize the significant technological advancements made in the nuclear industry.
The nuclear industry has made notable strides in waste reduction and efficient disposal methods. “Advances in reprocessing technologies and the creation of advanced reactors offer effective long-term solutions to nuclear waste concerns,” the lobby groups said in the open letter.”
While they acknowledge Africa’s renewable energy potential, they highlight its insufficiency to meet current and projected energy demands, as solar, wind, and hydro-electric power are often constrained by geography and weather conditions. “Nuclear energy, with its consistent and base-load supply, could complement these renewable sources, stabilizing the grid and ensuring energy security for African communities.”
To further bolster their advocacy, RePlanet has launched “The Switch on Africa” campaign championed by RePlanet Kenya and RePlanet Uganda and aimed at catalyzing investment in renewable energy, improving access to the grid, cutting the cost of power to boost household access and protecting African forests through sustainable energy practices. Its objectives, says RePlanet, is to increase Africa’s electricity consumption to between five to 10-fold by 2030 by catalyzing massive increase in investment in clean energy–solar, wind, geothermal, and nuclear by western development partners.
The campaign launched Oct. 16, 2023 in Kampala, ambitiously desires to “lift Africa into prosperity by powering large-scale industrialization through constant availability of electricity; urging African governments to include nuclear energy in their energy mix to reduce the cost and intermittency of electricity. Save Africa’s forests by reducing household dependence on biomass fuels like charcoal and wood for cooking.”
In line with RePlanet Africa’s cardinal objectives of advocating and rallying governments and the people to increase Africa’s electricity consumption, the advocates’ call for massive increase in investment in clean energy, stresses it should be supported by our western development partners. RePlanet also focusses on biodiversity, food security, ending plastic pollution, among others areas of focus.
