DeepGEO, Allweld promote nuclear in Africa

US-based nuclear waste management company DeepGEO and South African engineering company Allweld Nuclear & Industrial have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to promote an innovative commercial model of nuclear power development – Ubuntu Nuclear Energy. The aim is to accelerate the expansion of nuclear energy especially within Africa. The companies are committed to progressively building an African supply chain “and helping African countries build capacity and overcome the IAEA infrastructure challenges”.

The MOU says “DeepGEO intends to preferentially partner with Allweld to support the construction, operation and maintenance of its nuclear project opportunities in Africa, and potentially globally … Allweld agrees to lend its support to DeepGEO/Ubuntu Nuclear Energy as a technical expert and business partner to support its sales and investment”.

Link Murray, President of DeepGEO, noted: “While only now formalised, the fact is we have been cooperating with Allweld for over a year. Allweld has a stellar international reputation for quality workmanship, reliability, and employee development. It is a natural partner for supporting our regional and cooperative approach to nuclear energy development in Africa – Ubuntu Nuclear Energy. Allweld’s inspired and innovative leadership is helping us to break open Africa’s nuclear gridlock.” Ubuntu Nuclear Energy is a wholly owned subsidiary of DeepGEO.

“If the nuclear industry expects to make rapid progress, it can’t continue to do things the same way they have been done before,” said Allweld CEO Mervyn Fischer. “We need to embrace innovative solutions. African countries, especially, have the clear potential to leapfrog their European and American peers by adopting regional and harmonized approaches.”

Ubuntu Nuclear Energy will lead the development of standardised fleets of NPPs across Africa, and beyond. The company is pursuing a commercial, regional approach to nuclear energy deployment and intends to work consistently with one or two carefully selected reactor technology partners so that the benefits of standardisation can be realised across its projects. DeepGEO said the aim is to not just build plants faster, but to progressively localise the supply chain so that more benefits can be realised by the building countries. It is focused on Africa, which it sees as becoming the biggest growth market for nuclear energy by the year 2050.

Both DeepGEO and Allweld understand the advantages of a regional approach to nuclear energy. This promotes cooperation among neighbouring countries so that they can make rapid progress on common challenges – such as establishing nuclear legal and regulatory frameworks. It also encourages them to share resources and make use of regional nuclear energy facilities – such as, for example, deep geological repositories for the disposal of spent nuclear fuel.

DeepGEO is pursuing the development of multinational repositories in four locations. Two of these are currently targeted for Africa (Ghana and Somaliland), while another is being explored in Finland, and yet another for Labrador, Canada. While this MoU is mostly in support of nuclear power plant development, it also recognises Allweld as a preferred partner in DeepGEO’s core business activities.

According to its website, Ubuntu Nuclear Energy is working towards establishing initial projects in countries that are promising candidates for its commercial model. It is seeking early-stage investment and looking to formalise its technology and supply chain partners. “Each Ubuntu Nuclear Energy project will be structured to benefit from distinct advantages that will help to ensure rapid deployment. In Africa, the company aims to accelerate nuclear energy deployment and progressively localise an African nuclear supply chain.”

In March 2024, DeepGEO signed a partnership agreement with the African Commission On Nuclear Energy (AFCONE) paving the way for expanding nuclear energy in Africa and establishing a fully autonomous African nuclear supply chain. The African Nuclear Energy Funding Initiative (ANEFI) agreement supports the development of multinational repositories for high level nuclear waste in Africa to promote regional governance and secure financing for vital infrastructure development. DeepGEO said this “enhances the sustainability of nuclear energy worldwide, and boosts sustainable development in a continent that is expected to become home to 25% of the global population by the year 2050”.