By OPCS and Hope Barbra
Construction for Kenya’s first Nuclear Power Plant construction is set to commence in 2027.
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi said the nuclear plant will be connected to the national power grid by 2034.
“We have immense potential for nuclear technology and its application to support sustainable development is critical and will have to be scaled up to realize the goal of a more resilient and prosperous world,” he said.
Mudavadi said through the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KeBS), the government aims to establish a Regional Designated Centre for Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) to serve the broader African region.
“The collaboration between the Kenya Government and the Agency over the years has shaped the establishment of Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) and Dosimetry laboratories,” he said.
He said Kenya was looking forward to collaborating with the Agency to establish local schemes for personnel training, qualification, and certification to ensure the presence of a competent human resource base in Non-Destructive Testing (NDT)
He said the country remains steadfast in supporting the Agency´s statutory objectives of promoting access to peaceful nuclear science and technology applications for sustainable development.
This he said was meant to enhance nuclear safety, security and strengthen nuclear verification and non-proliferation efforts globally.
Mudavadi said, that Kenya has been a Member State of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) since 1965, and the Agency has supported the country in the peaceful use of nuclear applications through Technical Cooperation (TC) in various sectors.
“Kenya’s Nuclear Power and Energy Agency (NuPEA) has been the principal interface between the Government of Kenya and the Agency on Technical Cooperation (TC) and related matters,” he said.
He said Kenya was pursuing means of establishing a Kenya Nuclear Research Reactor (KNRR) Project
Mudavadi spoke when he addressed the 68th Regular Session of the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna, Austria.
“Our country has updated its Nuclear Infrastructure Profile (CNIP) and the Integrated Work Plan (IWP) and has identified the activities to be undertaken in Phase II,” he said.
Mudavadi said Kenya welcomed the Agency´s Nuclear Harmonization and Standardization Initiative, and the efforts to support the safe and secure deployment of advanced reactors including Small modular reactors (SMRs).
He said with the assistance of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the country had been able to train personnel and undertake a feasibility study to evaluate key elements essential for the sustainable implementation of the Kenya Nuclear Research Reactor (KNRR) Project.
Mudavadi said Kenya had developed a comprehensive action plan for timely and adequate resolution of identified gaps.
“In the area of environmental protection and water resource management, the IAEA has provided equipment and training which have enhanced our capabilities in groundwater assessment and management, hence making Kenya’s objective of availing clean and safe water for our population more achievable,” said Mudavadi.
Kenya, he said, had identified the Blue Economy as the next frontier for socioeconomic development, and supported the work undertaken by the Agency in environmental protection, particularly the nuclear solution to plastic pollution commonly known as the NUTEC Plastics initiative.
“We commend the Agency for its continued support to Kenya in setting up a pollution monitoring program covering major contaminants and ocean acidification. In this respect, we reiterate Kenya’s readiness to be designated a Pilot Country under this initiative and it will be better to also engage the Nairobi-based United Nations Environment Program (UNEP),” Mudavadi said.
Mudavadi said Kenya was ready to share its expertise and institutions in furtherance of the continued partnership with the Agency including hosting scholarly fellows from the region.
“We are pleased to inform you that the Kenya Nuclear Regulatory Authority is a Regional Designated Centre for education and training in radiation protection. We have hosted, among others, the Postgraduate Educational Course (PGEC), in Radiation Protection, and the Safety of Radiation Sources.” he said.
Kenya he noted signed the 5th Country Program Framework (CPF) with the Agency for the period 2023-2027, and the collaboration with the Agency has been pivotal in enhancing Kenya’s capabilities to leverage nuclear science and technology for sustainable development including energy security and independence, climate change mitigation, improving access to cancer care, agricultural productivity, water and sanitation, and environment management.
He said was in line with Kenya’s Vision 2030 and Bottom-Up Transformation Agenda (BETA).
This he said was important in addressing climate change and diversifying access to clean, reliable, and affordable energy.
“We further applaud the Agency’s Rays of Hope initiative, a flagship cancer program meant to increase access to affordable and sustainable radiotherapy services. Here, Kenya has benefited from the technical, financial, and material support of the Agency towards the establishment of two major cancer treatment centers in the country,” said Mudavadi.
