Kenya Seeks Sites For Nuclear Power Plant

Kenya Seeks Sites For Nuclear Power Plant

Kenya government has said it is seeking sites for the construction of a nuclear power plant along its coast.

Kenyan Energy Minister, Kiraitu Murungi said this on Friday, outlining the mandate of the 13- member committee formed by the government to help identify the sites and ensure that all terms and conditions of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) necessary for the approval of a nuclear power plant are met.

The Minister said that the committee will also prepare and endorse a detailed road map for the realisation of these terms and conditions, indicating the milestones and time lines for approval by the IAEA.

Nuclear energy plans ahead

Earlier this year, Kenya 's National Economic and Social Council (NESC) recommended that east Africa 's biggest economy embark on a programme to start generating nuclear energy by 2020 to meet its growing demand for electricity.

The NESC is mandated with providing the government with new policies to accelerate economic growth, create employment and reduce poverty in an economy, where agriculture accounts for a quarter of gross domestic product.

Kenya views nuclear power both as a long-term solution to high fuel costs and an effective way to cut carbon emissions from the power generating sector.

The costs were incurred during times of drought when diesel generators are used.

Kenya 's main electricity producer, KenGen, is already hunting for a partner to produce nuclear power by 2022 to help match-up rising demand and diversify from hydropower.

The power producer projects that Kenya as a whole could produce some 4,200 megawatts (MW) using nuclear by 2022.

Kenya relies on hydropower to generate about 65 percent of its electricity but has started channelling investments towards geothermal plants and wind farms to diversify energy sources.

REUTERS/Williams/Yinka