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.

Kenya: Nuclear Energy Can Speed Up Vision 2030

Three significant developments took place in the world of nuclear energy recently.

In Nairobi, the United Nations Environment Programme UNEP released its 2012 Yearbook which includes a treatise on the closing and decommissioning of nuclear power reactors at the end of their lifespans.

In London, the U.K and France signed a deal to strengthen co-operation in the development of civil nuclear energy. In the US, safety regulators gave the go-ahead for the construction of two nuclear power reactors in Georgia. One of the experiences highlighted in the report in the UNEP Yearbook is that decommissioning the first generation of nuclear reactors would have been easier and less expensive if they had been designed with this stage in mind. Absence of that has led to costs that would otherwise have been avoided.

The report recommends that nuclear power plants should be designed from the beginning for safe and efficient decommissioning, as well as for their safe operation, accident prevention, and safety with respect to the potentially affected public and the environment. These findings are important as they enrich Kenya's prefeasibility study which is addressing 19 infrastructure issues among them radioactive waste, radiation protection, environmental protection and safeguards. The recent debate has juxtaposed nuclear energy with renewable energy. One school of thought leans on the premise that Kenya should concentrate on renewable energy sources such as wind, solar and geothermal.

Indeed, Kenya has a geothermal potential of about 7000MW although only a fraction of that has been harnessed. The Least Cost Power Development Plan 2011- 2031 indicates that Kenya requires an installed capacity of at least 16000MW. Now even if all the geothermal potential is harnessed we would still have a very significant deficit.

For Kenya to industrialize under the Vision 2030 blueprint, it requires a huge base load-the constant or permanent load on a power supply- which can be obtained from coal, nuclear, oil and geothermal. Wind, solar and hydro are good for peaking -when there is a maximum demand for power-rather than for base load. No country worldwide has ever industrialized on wind, solar and other renewable forms of energy. The reason is quite simply that industry requires an assured base load to function.

Several African countries including Egypt, Nigeria, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Ghana and Kenya are at different stages of nuclear development. South Africa exploits nuclear energy for power generation and is expanding its capacity. More than 20 African countries have made the political decision to go nuclear.

Currently, the installed generation capacity of the whole Africa, 50-odd countries, is about 110GW - less than Germany's capacity. Over 500 million out of 1.6 billion people in the world, who currently do not have access to electricity live in Africa. Only about one-fifth of the sub-Saharan population has access to electricity. Can renewable energy alone really surmount this huge gap?

To achieve Vision 2030, Kenya's energy mix must of necessity include hydro, geothermal, solar, wind, coal, thermal and nuclear. China and South Korea, two of Asia's booming economies are making substantial investment in nuclear energy for electricity generation. Kenya is currently in the pre-feasibility stage of the nuclear electricity project. A political decision has been taken regarding nuclear electricity. That is what gave rise to the formation of the Nuclear Electricity Project Committee via a gazette notice by the Energy Minister in November 2010.

However, the pre-feasibility study which centres around 19 infrastructure issues will provide the ultimate technical opinion on whether or not the country should go ahead with plans for nuclear electricity. A positive technical report to the government by the Nuclear Electricity Project Committee will enable the process move to the feasibility stage. Calls for Kenya to 'abandon' nuclear electricity in favour of renewable energy are premature. The pre-feasibility study report will enable the country make an informed decision on the matter premised on clear parameters that meet strict international guidelines and standards set by the IAEA.

The timeline is that by the end of 2012 or the first quarter 2013 at the latest, Kenya should be ready to make a knowledgeable commitment to a nuclear program. The govt. will submit that prefeasibility study report of the first nuclear power plant to Parliament for approval and decision to be made on conducting the feasibility study. By December 2015, Kenya should be ready to invite bids for the first nuclear power plant. By the end of 2022, Kenya should be ready to commission and operate the first nuclear power plant which would infuse at least 1000MW into the national grid, rising to 4000MW by 2030 with the construction of three more nuclear power plants.

The issue of radioactive waste management is relevant during all phases of a nuclear power plant. For instance, France which has around 60 nuclear power stations for electricity generation will make its decision on the final storage of high level radioactive waste in 2025. Indeed no country has made that decision just as yet. So Kenya has time on its hands and best practice that will be obtained and learnt from those countries with end-of-life nuclear plants.

The deal between France and the UK to enhance civil nuclear energy co-operation and the greenlight for the construction of two nuclear power plants in Georgia, USA demonstrates that nuclear electricity generation is growing by the day, buoyed by being a clean, affordable and reliable source of energy, not susceptible to vagaries of weather or international fossil fuel prices.

Kenya: Nuclear Energy Is the Way to Go If We're Serious About Achieving Vision 2030

Location: Kenya, Africa

By Basett Buyukah, 26 February 2012

opinion

Three significant developments took place in the world of nuclear energy recently. In Nairobi, the United Nations Environment Programme (Unep) released its 2012 Yearbook.

In London, the UK and France signed a deal to strengthen cooperation in the development of civil nuclear energy.

Across the Atlantic Ocean, safety regulators gave the go-ahead for the construction of two nuclear power reactors in Georgia, USA.

Let us first delve into the Unep Yearbook report, which has elicited lively debate. The piece focuses on decommissioning of nuclear power reactors at the end of their lifespans.

One of the experiences highlighted is that decommissioning the first generation of nuclear reactors would have been easier and less expensive if they had been designed with this stage in mind.

These findings are important and can enrich Kenya's pre-feasibility study. Recent debate has juxtaposed nuclear energy with renewable energy.

One school of thought leans on the premise that Kenya should concentrate on renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, and geothermal.

Indeed, Kenya has a geothermal potential of about 7,000MW, although only a fraction of that has been harnessed.

The Least Cost Power Development Plan 2011-2031 indicates that Kenya requires an installed capacity of at least 16,000MW.

That means that even if all the geothermal potential is harnessed, we would still have a significant deficit.

For Kenya to industrialise under the Vision 2030 blueprint, it requires a huge base load. This can be obtained from coal, nuclear, oil, and geothermal.

Wind, solar, and hydro are good for peaking rather than base load -- the constant or permanent load on a power supply.

It is distinguished from peak load, which is the maximum demand for electrical power. No country in the world has ever industrialised on wind, solar et al.

These are good enough for peaking purposes, but woefully inadequate to provide the electricity required for Vision 2030 to become a reality.

The reason is simple: industry requires an assured base load to function.

Planned megacities such as Konza and Tatu and major industrial projects will not see the light of day if the position that renewable energy alone suffices to power them becomes the preponderant view.

Currently, the installed generation capacity of the whole of Africa -- 50-odd countries -- is about 110GW, less than Germany's capacity.

Over 500 million of the world's 1.6 billion people who currently do not have access to electricity live in Africa.

Only about one-fifth of the sub-Saharan population has access to electricity. Can renewable energy alone surmount this huge gap?

The arguments made in favour of renewable energy cannot pass muster if we are sincere in our desire to enter the league of newly industrialised countries.

Kenya's energy mix must of necessity include hydro, geothermal, solar, wind, coal, thermal, and nuclear.

For instance, China and South Korea, two of Asia's booming economies are making substantial investment in nuclear energy for electricity generation.

Kenya is currently at the pre-feasibility stage of the nuclear electricity project.

A political decision has been taken regarding nuclear electricity. That is what gave rise to the formation of the Nuclear Electricity Project Committee.

The pre-feasibility study, which centres around 19 infrastructure issues, will provide the ultimate technical opinion on whether or not the country should go ahead with plans for nuclear electricity.

Therefore, calls for Kenya to "abandon" nuclear electricity in favour of renewable energy are premature.

The issue of radioactive waste management is relevant during all phases of a nuclear power plant.

So Kenya has time and best practice that will be obtained and learnt from those countries with end-of-life nuclear plants.

The deal between France and the UK to enhance civil nuclear energy cooperation and the green light for the construction of two nuclear power plants in Georgia, USA demonstrates that nuclear electricity generation is growing, buoyed by the fact that it is a clean, affordable, and reliable source of energy, not susceptible to vagaries of weather or international fossil fuel prices.