JAPAN'S ENERGY POLICY RETHINK - AN OPPORTUNITY FOR GHANA'S GNPC?

Japan's tragic and devastating earthquake earlier this year (apparently the biggest ever recorded in the world, thus far), and the terrifying tsunami that followed almost immediately after that super-quake, resulted in damage to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. The radiation leaks and the closing off, of areas not deemed safe, in an exclusion zone, as a result of contamination, have eventually led to calls for the Japanese government to review its energy policy.

Perhaps Ghana could play a role in assisting Japan to diversify away from its dependence on nuclear power: in a win-win agreement between the two countries, to develop a world-class integrated natural gas industry in Ghana to supply the Japanese power industry with natural gas: sent to Japan in specialised ships it can help the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) purchase.

Surely, it is not beyond the capacity of our nation's current rulers, to offer to give Japan the opportunity to secure natural gas supplies from Ghana to power any new thermal gas-fired power plants they build in place of planned nuclear power plants, which will now probably never be built?

It is such a pity that the mostly-unimaginative and partisan senior public officials (many of them largely pro-New Patriotic Party!) who advise Ghana's foreign minister, were not creative enough to think of advising the Hon. Alhaji Mumuni, to arrange to send at least two plane-loads of cocoa products such as our famous dark chocolates and Nestle milo, as well as Cargill's marvellous chocolate drink, to children in Japan - as a gift from the government and people of Ghana to Japanese school children, after the super-quake and tsunami. Would it not have shown the Japanese people that Ghana cared about their plight, dear reader?

(Incidentally, schools in Japan have just reopened for the first time since the earthquake and tsunami - and it is still not too late for Ghana to make this gesture of friendship to the Japanese people. But I digress!).

As we speak, fears are beginning to rise too, about possible danger posed to yet another nuclear power plant (owned by Chubu Electric Power), by an expected earthquake in Hamaoka in central Japan, where it is located (of which, more anon). It is adding to the increasing pressure on the Democratic Party government of Japanese Prime Minister, Naoto Kan, to review its energy policy.

According to a 10th May, 2011, BBC news report, Prime Minister Naoto Kan has said that "Japan had to start from scratch with its energy plans following the disaster."

He is also said to have further stated that other forms of energy would also be key in the future, saying: "The current basic energy policy envisages that over 50% of total electricity supply will come from nuclear power while more than 20% will come from renewable power in 2030."

Need I say more, dear reader? Aren't there potential opportunities galore for the GNPC: as Japan seeks to end its dependence on nuclear energy (described by the Japanese prime minister as the "major pillar" of "Japanese society"), and increases the share of other forms of power, in its energy-mix - such as gas-fired thermal power plants: utilising Ghana's natural gas, perhaps?

One hopes that Mr. Ato Awhoi, the chairperson of the GNPC board, will pay close attention to this upcoming review of Japan's energy policy - and work together with the GNPC's management to draw up proposals in the light of the impending move away from reliance on nuclear power.

They can send same to the Japanese power industry association and the government of Japan. We must turn any review of the Japanese government's energy policy, into a golden opportunity to help one of our most generous friends, and at the same time use Ghana's natural gas deposits to develop an integrated natural gas liguefaction industry in this country, for the mutual benefit of both peoples.

The question is: will those in charge of the GNPC be willing to do some lateral thinking for a change, to turn such a proposal into solid facts on the ground, sooner rather than later - as lack of money will not be a problem for any joint-venture partners from the Japanese power industry?

To show them what's at stake, Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco), is expected to pay compensation to the affected 80,000 families, farmers and other businesses from the exclusion zone, to the tune of some US$100 billions.

What is a mere US $10-20 billions to fund GNPC's exploitation of our natural gas deposits; build gas liquefaction plants in Ghana; and fund the acquisition by the GNPC, of the special tankers needed to freeze and transport supplies to Japan regularly - if that will contribute to the move away from their reliance on nuclear power going forward: and avoid paying billions of dollars in compensation, when an accident occurs, should yet another destructive earthquake, strike Japan again?

It is just such fears about earthquake damage to nuclear power plants that led to Chubu Electric Power agreeing to suspend operations at a nuclear facility on safety concerns. Last Friday, Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan asked the Chubu Electric Power Company to halt operations at its plant in Hamaoka in central Japan.

Mr Kan said three reactors sit in an area due for an earthquake, and new safety measures needed to be put in place. So, dear reader, that there is an opportunity for Ghana to help Japan and benefit from so doing, should not be in doubt.

In any case, one certainly hopes that this particular small group, amongst Ghana's often hard-of-hearing educated urban elite, who are in charge of the GNPC, will listen to sensible advice from outside their confounded charmed circle, for once, for a change - and get cracking on this godsend opportunity for Nkrumah's Ghana, to grow its GDP, some more. A word to the wise...

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