The Nigerian government said on Wednesday it had approved seven international agreements on nuclear safety and accountability as part of moves to create an electricity-generating atomic power industry. Seven other nuclear treaties have already been approved.
"The ratification and domestication of these 14 agreements will demonstrate Nigeria's commitment to international rules and procedures for nuclear safety and security as well as accountability for nuclear materials," Information Minister Frank Nweke said.
The new accords must now be ratified by parliament.
They are the Convention on Nuclear Safety, the Convention on Physical Protection of Nuclear Materials, the Amendment to the Convention on Physical Protection of Nuclear Materials, the Joint Convention on the Safety of Radioactive Management, the Vienna Convention on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage, Joint Protocols relating to the Application of the Vienna and Paris Conventions, and the Agreement on the Privileges and Immunities of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Nigeria wants to harness nuclear power to boost its electric power output.
Nweke said the country of 130 million hoped to increase its generating capacity more than tenfold, from less than 4,000 megawatts now to 40,000 megawatts by 2015.
"We realised that if we are to depend solely on hydro, coal and gas in the Niger Delta area, it will be very difficult for us to achieve that target," he said.
"We must indeed explore other sources, particularly nuclear power, as a major component, not just as an option."
Nweke said the cabinet had made it clear that Nigeria was only interested in using nuclear energy for civilian purposes.
"Nigeria is not interested in deploying nuclear power or harnessing nuclear power for military purposes. Not at all," Nweke said.
Source: Agence France-Presse
