Kenya's nuclear energy drive to boost electricity supply

Kenya is gearing up for a revision of its energy policy to establish a regulatory system for overseeing the potential opening of the country's first private-sector nuclear power plant.

Despite warnings that the world's nuclear waste is growing at alarming rates and with most of the current facilities having outlived their usefulness, a director of a government board Monday said several Kenyan scientists were already receiving training.

"The energy policy is being revised and nuclear has been added as part of the revised energy policy," Ochilo Ayacko, a former energy minister who chairs a government board tasked with overseeing the introduction of nuclear technologies.

He said the establishment of the nuclear committee was a first major step. Kenya is eyeing the establishment of a nuclear-powered plant to produce almost 25 percent of the electricity needs out of the 15,000 megawatts capacity dream. Nineteen percent would come from a single nuclear-power plant.

Ayacko said an institution to promote nuclear technologies has been established, meeting a key target required by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) whose inspectors are currently visiting Kenya to determine the level of preparedness.

Thabishile Molea, an IAEA program manager, said Monday the team was visiting to review the level of preparedness and to enhance nuclear safety through an effective regulation system.

She said the regulatory framework for a nuclear project in Kenya was important for IAEA approval.

"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 euros (3.1 million U.S. dollars) 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 2.3 million euros (3.1 million dollars) 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."

To meet electricity shortfalls, authorities in Nairobi hope to hit 2,000 MW to deal with the peak demand for electricity in the East African nation.

"We are working to ensure small margins in terms of supply," said Patric Nyoike, permanent secretary at the Kenyan energy ministry.

Nyoike said that while wind powered electricity generation projects are part of the plan, the government has to look at other options.

"We reckon we have a bit of wind," he said.

Kenya's current energy needs total 900 MW against an installed capacity of 1,200 MW but the east African nation hopes to boost electricity generation by 17,000 MW.

"There is hope the installed capacity would have increased by 2030," Nyoike said.

Achim Steiner, the UN Environmental Program executive director, said that instead of focusing on nuclear energy, Kenyan authorities should consider more investments in renewable energy.

"Nuclear energy requires more investment. Renewable energy requires short perspective. Renewable energy makes more economic sense," Steiner said.

UN officials said Kenya should approve public debate on the future of renewable energy before deciding whether it would be appropriate to invest in nuclear power.

Joseph Alcamo, UNEP's chief scientist, said more nuclear plants were ageing and required decommissioning, the nuclear waste generated by these plants would be 10-200 times more than the current levels, proving to be a bigger environmental challenge.