Nuclear power, only way to go

A recent report by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), a financial advisory firm says Nairobi is the most attractive destination for foreign direct investment (FDI) in Africa, relative to some of the largest cities in the continent. It also indicates that Nairobi is a regional financial services hub, only rivalled by South Africa’s commercial capital, Johannesburg. To attract more investors into investing into the country and more specifically in the city, there must be enough power in form of electricity.

Currently the production of electricity is shorter than the supply. The country produces only 1,700 MW of electricity while the country consumes more than 1,900 MW of electricity. It means therefore that the country is forced to import electricity from the neighboring Uganda. There is low supply of energy and this has contributed to lack of major investments in the sector by the private sector and general investments as a whole.

High power loses and low voltages have contributed to high tariffs. This, together with other factors such as insecurity has shunned away the potential investments in the country.

Currently installed hydro power will be able to produce only a maximum of 3000 MW of electricity. The wind power producing 5.45 MW while economic benefits offered by solar technologies among the population are not enough to also support the manufacturing industries.

Geothermal seems like the remaining alternative since the hydro power which depends on rainfall is nearing its capacity. With current trends of drought experienced in the country, it is clear enough that hydroelectric power does not have a good future.

Geothermal energy is estimated that it will produce a range of about 7000 to 10000 MW of electricity. However, this will not be enough as the estimated consumption in the country is expected to be 17,000 MW. In order to bridge this gap and for Kenya to achieve middle-income status, nuclear energy has been determined to be the best way to produce  safe, clean, reliable and base load electricity.

Pushing for a legislation

Kenya Nuclear Electricity Board (KNEB) is planning to push in for legislation in the parliament that would see establishment of an independent regulator by the end of this year.

These were words that had had been aforementioned  by the board’s executive chairmen & CEO, Hon. Ochilo Ayacko when the Parliamentary delegation previously visited South Korea sponsored by KNEB on Nuclear developments in the Asian country.

The regulating body that is set to be established through parliamentary legislation is set to be independent from promoters and users of to be nuclear energy.

This is will be one of the major milestones that the board will be undertaking towards establishing a nuclear power plant between 2017 and 2022 in the realization of vision 2030. The plant is supposed to produce at least 1000 MW of electricity if it is established.

According to the blue prints economic strategy, the Country will require a total amount of 17,000 MW of electricity. Currently, the country produces only a total of 1,700 MW of electricity since independence. This is only a tenth of what the country will require to realize its vision 2030 energy requirements.

 The remaining gap is supposedly to be filled by geothermal energy which will be able to produce a range of 7000 MW to 10,000 MW of electricity. This means that there will still be deficit of energy requirement since energy that is got from diesel is not sufficient enough and also it pollutes the environment so much. Moreover, the clean renewable energy got from wind produces only 5.45 MW of electricity making it very unreliable for economic dependency and so is the solar energy.

So as to cover the deficit the country requires nuclear energy to fill in this gap. With the current progress there is hope that the country is moving towards the right path of establishing a nuclear power plant.

If KNEB meets its goal then the country will have more foreign investments that will see faster realization of vision 2030.

Many foreign investors have decried experienced power shortages, frequent black outs and constant low voltage of electricity that has made them to lose a lot of money as a result of mishaps and also shunning away potential investors.

However, with these major milestones being taken by the board it seems that there is hope to the common people and investors at large as power outrages will soon be a thing of the past.

Michael Ogutu

Publicity & Advocacy