Itu nuclear power plant

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Itu nuclear power plant is a shelved nuclear power plant in Itu, Akwa Ibom, Nigeria.

Project Details

Table 1: Unit-level project details for Itu nuclear power plant

Unit name	Status	Nameplate capacity	Owner	Operator
1	Shelved (inferred May 2024)	1200 MW	Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission; Rosatom [100%]	Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission; Rosatom
2	Shelved (inferred May 2024)	1200 MW	Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission; Rosatom [100%]	Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission; Rosatom

Location

Table 2: Unit-level location details for Itu nuclear power plant

Unit name	Location	Coordinates (WGS 84)
1	Itu, Akwa Ibom, Nigeria	5.2016, 7.9861 (approximate)
2	Itu, Akwa Ibom, Nigeria	5.2016, 7.9861 (approximate)

The map below shows the approximate location of the nuclear power plant:

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General Overview

The power plant is facilitated by a partnership between Russian-owned corporation, Rosatom, and the Nigerian Atomic Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA).

Background and Context

In 2009, during a visit to Africa by then Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, Nigeria and Russia agreed upon the exploration of uranium in Nigeria. This cooperation agreement paved the way for further agreements for Russia to facilitate research into the construction of nuclear power reactors in Nigeria In July 2011. This agreement was made between Russia’s state-owned corporation Rosatom and the Nigerian Atomic Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA). In June 2012 Rosatom confirmed Russian financing for Nigeria. In 2015, an intergovernmental agreement established a partnership to facilitate the operation of Nigeria’s first unit by 2025, and a total of 4800 MWe in operation by 2035. Itu - in the Akwa Ibom state in Nigeria - was identified in 2010, and confirmed alongside the Geregu location. Furthermore, at a conference hosted by the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) in 2017, Rosatom and the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC) signed an agreement for an operation and construction partnership between the two. Anton Moskvin, signatory for Rosatom at the conference, stated, “Nuclear technology will strengthen Nigeria’s position as a leading country on the African continent. These are large-scale projects of strategic importance, and they will set the pace for relationships between our two countries in the long run”. Both the Itu and Geregu sites were included in the plans set forth by the agreement made between Rosatom and Nigeria.

In March 2022, Directory General of NNRA, Yau Idris, explained that Nigeria is working with several countries to facilitate the development of a robust nuclear program in the country. Yau Idris explained, “if anyone tells you Nigeria can’t manage a nuclear power plant - they are just telling you a story.” In July of the same year, Nigerian officials from NNRA and NAEC met with IAEA representatives to address the development of nuclear energy facilities, and ensure that safety regulations were integral to future planning.

Construction and Financing

The Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC) selected the Itu site alongside the Geregu nuclear site with a total estimated investment of $20 billion USD in July 2015. The power plant is being developed under a build-own-operate (BOO) partnership between Russian-owned corporation, Rosatom, and the Nigerian government. Part of this agreement stipulates that Russian financing will be provided as an option for the project, and that ownership and operations will be transferred to the Nigerian Government nuclear regulatory arm after development of the Geregu nuclear power plant.

Opposition

Activists in Nigeria, as well as international entities, have expressed concern over Nigeria’s decision to introduce a civil nuclear program in the country, as well as concern for Nigeria’s partnership with Rosatom in this pursuit.

In 2019, The Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) expressed concern over the implementation of Nigeria’s nuclear energy plant. This concern was issued in response to an explosion and radiation release in the Arkhangelsk region of Russia, that led to mass evacuation and high levels of radiation near the facility, as well as several deaths. ERA/FoEN issued a statement, and the deputy executive director from the group explained, “Once again we have another reason to ask the Nigerian government to halt the nuclear misadventure spearheaded by the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC) without the consent of Nigerians.” These concerns were also reported by the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre, and Greenpeace’s 2014 report titled “Rosatom Risks: Exposing the Troubled History of Russia’s State Nuclear Corporation”, addressing transparency problems with Rosatom, engendered further skepticism in those concerned for the government's nuclear program.

Articles and Resources

Additional data

To access additional data, including an interactive map of global nuclear power plants, a downloadable dataset, and summary data, please visit the Global Nuclear Power Tracker on the Global Energy Monitor website.