Kiraitu Murungi, Kenya’s energy minister, has first announced the plans for the plant’s construction in October 2008.
Murungi said there is a shortage of 3,000 megawatts of electricity for the nation. Kenya prodices just 1,100 megawatts of electricity annually and its electricity production is ranked 22 in Africa.
”With nuclear energy there is potential to generate four times that amount or even more,” Murungi said.
South Africa is the only African nation to have a fully operational nuclear power plant. Egypt, Kenya and Nigeria are in the process of building their own. Kenya is the first to identify a site and undergo an environmental study.
David Maina, director of nuclear science and technology at University of Nairobi, said the project will cost an estimated amount of KES80 billion.
The project will take at least five years before the plant is operational as extensive inspection must be carried out by authorities like the Radiation Protection Board and the National Environmental Management Authority.
The construction would commence as early as September 2010 once a feasibility study is complete, said Maina.
According to Kirui, construction of the plant could act as a model for other African countries to resolve their own electricity problems. Kirui is also confident that the plant will not harm the environment, since all necessary safety measures will be taken.
