Kenya
Nuclear Electricity Board (KNEB) is planning to push in for legislation in the
parliament for establishment of an independent regulator (independent from
promoters and users of to be nuclear energy) to govern all nuclear activities
and facilities in Kenya.
This
was aforementioned by the Board’s Executive Chairman & CEO, Hon. Ochilo
Ayacko when a delegation from the Kenyan Parliament previously visited South
Korea sponsored and organized by KNEB to familiarize the members on nuclear power
development in the Asian country. Establishing an independent regulator is one
of the major milestones the Board is undertaking towards putting in place and
commissioning a nuclear power plant between 2017 and 2022 to generate at least
1000 MW of electricity and a total of 4,000 MW by 2030.
According
to Kenya’s Vision 2030 economic blueprint, it is projected that the country will
require an installed capacity of about 21,000 MW of electricity with a peak
demand of 16,000 MW. Currently, the country generates about 2,000 MW of
electricity since its independence. This is only a tenth of what the country
will require to realize its vision 2030 energy requirements. The remaining gap will
supposedly be filled by generation from other sources of energy including and
not limited to geothermal, wind, hydro, coal etc. Over
the years, foreign investors have decried electricity shortages, frequent power
outages and constant low voltage of electricity causing huge losses especially
in the manufacturing industry as a result of electrical mishaps while potential
investors have shunned away.
Introducing
nuclear power in Kenya’s energy mix would immensely make a difference in the
country’s energy sector and economy. In this regard, the Board which is playing
the role of a Nuclear Energy Programme Implementation Organization (NEPIO) is
pushing for the establishment of infrastructure necessary for the realization of
nuclear electricity generation in Kenya.
