Kenya to build nuclear power plant by 2034

The country is on track to establish its first nuclear power plant by 2034. According to the Nuclear Power and Energy Agency (Nupea), Kenya is in the final phase of implementing the project.

Nupea’s Director of Strategy and Planning, Winnie Ndumbai, told the Senate Energy Committee that the agency has achieved major milestones in nuclear development.

Dr Ndumbai explained that there are three phases in the preparation of nuclear power infrastructure. The first phase involves consideration of a nuclear power programme, followed by preparatory work for contracting and construction of the plant, and finally, activities to implement the plant.

“The government has already committed to a nuclear programme by conducting feasibility studies, building capacity, establishing a national nuclear regulator, and identifying the best and alternative sites for nuclear power plants,” said Ndumbai.

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She told the committee that Kenya is currently in the second phase of its nuclear power programme, which involves final preparations for constructing the nuclear plant.

Two sites, located in Kilifi and Kwale counties, have been identified for the project, and efforts are underway to strengthen the country’s national nuclear regulatory frameworks.

Ndumbai assured the committee, chaired by Nyeri Senator Wahome Wamatinga, that the final phase of the project — construction and commissioning of the first nuclear power plant by 2034 — would mark a major milestone for the country.

Nupea’s Director of Nuclear Energy Infrastructure Development, Eric Ohaga, noted that Kenya has made critical infrastructure advancements over the last three years.

In 2021, the International Atomic Energy Agency granted approval for Kenya to proceed to phase two of the programme.

“Initially, 29 potential sites were identified across the Lake Victoria region, Lake Turkana, and the Indian Ocean.

However, detailed site characterisation eliminated areas prone to volcanic activity and earthquakes, leaving Kwale and Kilifi counties as the most suitable locations,” said Ohaga.

He explained that detailed scientific studies will be conducted  to ascertain whether the selected sites meet all the necessary requirements.

He highlighted Kenya’s efforts to build capacity in the nuclear energy sector, with a goal of training at least 1,000 nuclear scientists by 2036 to enable the localisation, design, and construction of nuclear power plants.

He noted that Kenya aims to follow the example of South Africa, which operates two nuclear power plants and plans to add two more by 2029. Similarly, Egypt is working on establishing four nuclear plants by 2029, while Ghana and Nigeria are pursuing comparable initiatives.

Ohaga told the committee that within East Africa, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda are also advancing nuclear development but remain in phase one. He emphasised that nuclear energy provides a stable power supply, capable of running uninterrupted for up to two years.

“A nuclear power plant will address transmission losses in the coastal and western regions, which frequently face power interruptions due to voltage drops and load shedding. It will also boost industrial development once operational,” said Ohaga.

Senator Wamatinga acknowledged that Kenya currently relies heavily on geothermal power, while hydropower faces challenges from diminishing forest cover and siltation. He described the nuclear project as a transformative journey that will significantly advance the country’s energy sector and urged the state agency to expedite its implementation.

Senator Wamatinga raised concerns about the safety of living near nuclear power plants, urging the state agency to reassure Kenyans about potential risks and the impact on marine life, given that the identified sites are in the coastal region.