Abuja — Director, Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA), Shamsudeen Elegba, has stated that Nigeria needs to build at least 10 nuclear power plants to generate 30,000 megawatts of electricity and suggested additional importation in order to meet the stated target.

Elegba stated this when the House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Up Stream) came for an oversight function in the agency.

The committee, led by Hon. CID Maduabum wanted to know the wisdom in importing power plants amidst the need to develop local power plants.

It was then that the NNRA boss explained that the venture had both economic and political implications.

He said that the country requires about 30,000 megawatts from nuclear energy, in addition to the ones coming from the hydro and gas turbines connected to the national grid in order to boost the country's power generating base load and make it robust.

"You know that one nuclear plant generates about 1,000 megawatts and we are talking about 30, 000mw here, so as to help strengthen our base load," he said.

He further stated that nuclear energy is very critical in the pursuit of maximum power generating capacity in Nigeria and as well, very crucial for future energy use of the nation; and noted that most developed countries today rely on nuclear energy, which must conform with international standard.

"If you go the US , 75 per cent of their electricity is power plants, the same with Germany and other developed countries," he added.