Opinion
As Africa eyes nuclear energy to meet growing energy demands – is continent ready to handle related risks?
Already, the country is completing a pre-feasibility study for a nuclear power program.
“We expect the study to be out latest April 2013,” Mr Juma said. “We are also rolling out civic education programs in all 47 counties across the country with the aim of telling people that nuclear power is safe, relatively cheap and will help in stabilizing the electricity grid.”
Dr Ochilo Ayacko, the executive chairman of the Nuclear Electricity Project Committee, said Kenya expects to commission its first nuclear plant of 1,000 MW in 2022.
By 2031, three other nuclear plants with a combined capacity of 4000 MW are expected to be commissioned.
The country’s move towards nuclear energy is part of its development blueprint dubbed Vision 2030, through which Kenya hopes to transform itself into an industrialized country.
(More: Kenya advised by UN body to abandon nuclear program)
According to Kenya’s Least Cost Power Development Plan (LCPDP), the total installed capacity in 2030 will be 15,026 MW, of which nuclear plants are expected to contribute 19 percent.
Tanzania, on the other hand, is making progress in this regard. Both Tanzania’s Nuclear Technology Policy and Nuclear Energy Policy are in their final stages while the Atomic Energy Act and Regulations are already in place.
