Lake Turkana area added to list of possible nuclear plant sites

Lake Turkana region has been added to the list of possible sites for a nuclear plant alongside towns bordering the Indian Ocean and Lake Victoria.

The proposed sites by the Kenya Nuclear Electricity Board (Kneb) are endowed with large water masses which are crucial in cooling nuke reactors.

Kenya seeks to generate at least 4,000 megawatts of nuclear electricity to support its drive to industrialise by 2030 for jobs creation and growth.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) last week presented its assessment report on Kenya’s preparedness to build the region’s first nuke plant following last year’s visit to Nairobi by officials of the Vienna-based agency.

“Kenya is making notable progress in the journey to nuclear development,” IAEA deputy director-general Mikhail Chudakov said in Nairobi.

Kenya views nuclear power both as a long-term solution to high fuel costs, incurred during times of drought when diesel generators are used, and an effective way to cut reliance on weather dependent hydro power.

The atomic agency, which promotes peaceful use of nuclear, has asked Kenya to create a regulatory agency in charge of nuclear and a legal framework.

READ: Kenya to go ahead with nuclear power plan

The country is also required to prepare modalities for project financing, contract award, nuclear safety and strengthen its human resource capacity.

Kenya has struck deals with South Korea, US and lately China to build Nairobi’s base of skilled manpower in atomic technology in an arrangement where Kenyan students are flown for overseas study.

“Kenya needs nuclear power,” said Mr Chudakov, citing expected explosion of population in coming years that will widen demand for electricity.

Kenya currently relies on energy sources like geothermal, thermal and hydropower with an installed capacity of 2,294 MW. It targets to commission its first 1,000 MW reactor in 2027.

Construction takes about five years, according to IAEA with its electricity priced at between 8 and 10 US cents (Sh8 and Sh10), which is about half the cost of electricity from diesel generators.