Opinion
As Africa eyes nuclear energy to meet growing energy demands – is continent ready to handle related risks?
“The official status on the nuclear energy project is not out but there is a lot going on on the ground,” said J B Ngatunga, a Tanzanian nuclear scientist.
With its fast growing industrial sector led by manufacturing and mining, the country’s energy needs are huge.
Recently, Tanzania, which relies heavily on hydro-power, was hit hard by power shortages caused by low water levels in the dams’ catchment areas due to inadequate rainfall.
Tanzania’s hydropower potential is estimated at 4.7 GW; coal reserves are estimated at about 1,200 million tonnes, of which 304 million tonnes are proven while natural gas is estimated at 49.5 billion cubic metres of proven reserves.
The use of fossil fuels is beset by environmental pollution challenges.
In the past 10 years, Tanzania’s domestic energy demand has grown rapidly due to population growth and increase in economic activities.
Uganda plans to tap into nuclear power to avoid a possible energy crisis in the near future.
“The generation potential from hydro, biomass, geothermal and peat if fully developed can only serve the country up to 2018. We are now considering nuclear energy as a serious option to meet our power needs,” said Sarah Nafuna Mudoko, the head of the Nuclear Energy Unit in Uganda.
