Amid the rising demand for energy consumption in Kenya and the push for zero-carbon energy, Kenya targets to start construction of its first nuclear power plant in 2027 as the country seeks to further diversify its energy generation. The country’s electricity capacity as of 2021 stood at 2,990 MW, a significant growth from 1,800MW in 2014, but still low for a country with a population of over 50 million. The government is still pursuing efforts that will increase power demand and supply, and lower the cost of electricity by injecting cheaper renewable energy sources such as geothermal, wind, solar, and the addition of natural gas into the energy mix while weaning off the more expensive heavy fuel oil (HFO) plants. It is expected that generation will reach 5,000MW by the year 2030, with the bulk of it coming from geothermal, natural gas (imports), wind, solar, and Nuclear energy in following years.
Kenya has long-term goals of developing nuclear power and this quest is projected to increase electricity production as the demand is projected to increase as the country angles to be a middle-income economy by 2030 as per the country’s Vision 2030 initiative. Geothermal energy accounts for the biggest share of the electricity generated in the country with a share of about 45 percent followed by hydro about 21 percent, wind about 16 percent, and solar about 4 percent.
The plant is expected to have a capacity of 1,000 Megawatts (MW), which if successfully delivered it will be very key in helping boost the electricity supply to the economy and help reduce the dependence on not environmental friendly thermal plants. Nuclear Power and Energy Agency (NuPEA) acting CEO Justus Wabuyabo while speaking during a recent interview, stated that the agency has advanced plans to float international tenders for the construction of the plant in either Kilifi or Kwale Counties. These plans follows an approval by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in the year 2021 granting the country the go ahead with setting up the infrastructure for the plants.
“We will do the bidding stage, as anytime between 2026 and 2027 and start construction in 2027. Construction ranges from six to ten years so we are looking at 2034-35 to commission the first plant,” Mr. Wabuyabo said. “We are now focusing on Kilifi and Kwale as our ideal sites. They have met most of the criteria but before we determine the final site, we have to do a detailed scientific study as provided for by IAEA like seismic tests,” he added.
Besides the costly budget of the project, Kenya will also be required to upgrade its electricity transmission network to provide reliable and off the site power to power these nuclear power plants. Referring to other African countries this will be a milestone for Kenya as South Africa is the only country with a commercial nuclear plant that accounts for five percent of the electricity generated in the country. As our peers, the US nuclear plants accounts for about 47 percent of electricity generated. Over the years, Kenya has stepped up its efforts to actualize its nuclear energy dream and has been sending dozens of students abroad to developed economies using nuclear energy, to boost their skill sets and ensure that the country does not wholly import the labor.