Business
Kenya creating regulator to supervising private sector nuclear energy
“We are expected to put in our documents to show that it intends to go nuclear and the institutions that will spearhead the nuclear technologies,” Ayacko said during a meeting with IAEA officials.
Kenya has announced the execution of a €2.3 million (US$ 3.1 million) training program for nuclear scientists to bolster the ability of local experts to oversee the safe introduction of “peaceful” nuclear program.
“There are components we are working on,” Ayacko said, referring to the ongoing efforts to establish a nuclear regulatory system.
Kenya ’s efforts to shift to nuclear power suffered a big blow after Japan ’s nuclear disaster in 2011 caused by an earthquake and subsequent tsunami.
The US$3.1 million will finance a 15-year plan to train nuclear experts. Already, six Kenyan experts are receiving training in South Korea on nuclear technologies.
Even though Kenya plans to employ nuclear energy by 2020 with the first nuclear power plant by 2017 to cut carbon emissions, UN agencies prefer “greener energies.”
“There should not be preferred nuclear technologies in Kenya ,” said Adnan Amin, director-general of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). “ Kenya is rich in renewable energy potential.”
