The Senate of Nigeria has called on the government to consider the inclusion of nuclear power in the country's energy mix. In resolutions agreed yesterday, it asked the government to give the Nigerian Atomic Energy Commission a mandate to ensure timely talks with nuclear reactor vendors.

The operator of the Nigerian Research Reactor-1, known as NIRR-1, has shown a high commitment to safety following the conversion of the reactor core to use low-enriched uranium as fuel instead of high-enriched uranium, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency. It made a number of recommendations to the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission to further enhance safety.

The last known highly enriched uranium in Nigeria has been repatriated to China, leaving the African country HEU-free.

China has begun the shipment of low-enriched uranium fuel for use in the Nigeria Research Reactor-1 , a Chinese-supplied Miniature Neutron Source Reactor that currently uses high-enriched uranium fuel.

A new peer review service has been launched by the International Atomic Energy Agency to assist member states in the development of infrastructure for nuclear research reactors. The first Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review for Research Reactors mission was carried out last week in Nigeria.

Nigeria and Russia have signed agreements on the construction and operation of a nuclear power plant and a nuclear research centre, including a multi-purpose research reactor, in the African country.

Nigeria has a committed regulatory body that works for the continuous improvement of nuclear and radiation safety, an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) peer review mission has concluded. However, it noted challenges related to its independence in implementing regulatory decisions and activities.

Nigeria wants to develop nuclear power to diversify its energy mix beyond the current mix dominated by fossil and hydro, Franklin Osaisai, head of the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission, told the AtomExpo conference in Moscow today. He wants Nigerian people to share ownership and management responsibility in a future program based on 'safety, security and respect'.

The newly created West African Integrated Nuclear Power Group prepared a draft memorandum of understanding and three-year action plan at its first meeting, held last week in Niamey, Niger. The heads of delegations from Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Mali, Niger, Nigeria and Senegal will take the MOU document to their respective governments for signature, which will commit them to proceeding with the initial planning for a regional nuclear power program.