Radiation threat questions Kenya’s ability to adopt nuclear energy

By Lillian Aluanga

Japan’s scramble to contain a potential disaster following explosions at a nuclear plant has reignited debate on Kenya’s readiness to adopt the alternative source of energy production.

Explosions at the Fukushima Daiichi plant were triggered by a 9.0 magnitude earthquake and tsunami, that have left thousands homeless and at least 7,200 people dead. Residents living within 20km radius of the plant have been evacuated while those between 20 and 30km away were asked to either leave the area or stay in sealed homes.

Helicopters have been dumping tonnes of water to cool fuel rods to prevent a catastrophic radiation release into the atmosphere, as the International Atomic Energy Agency raises concerns about the situation.

In Kenya plans are afoot to build the first nuclear power plant in less than 10 years. But even as the Ministry of Energy’s Nuclear Electricity Project gathers pace there have been concerns over the country’s preparedness to adopt nuclear energy power production and capacity to handle outbursts such as those in Japan and Chernobyl in the Ukraine.

Explore

"The Government is anxious to explore nuclear power production, but it would be ill advised to do so at this point," says University of Nairobi lecturer Shem Wandiga.

Prof Wandiga, a lecturer in the Chemistry Department says Kenya lacks the calibre of expertise needed to handle the effects should something go wrong at a nuclear plant.

"We have no nuclear chemists or physicists, not even our armed forces nor hospitals have personnel adequately trained in evacuation of populations caught in such an event," he says.

"We currently don’t have the technology for adopting power production using nuclear energy. Importing this technology will require importing personnel at high costs," he adds.

Wandiga says Kenya will need to work on a strategic plan that will require over 30 years to develop an adequately skilled workforce for nuclear power production. Training an individual in this field could take between eight and ten years.

Proponents of nuclear energy say there have been major technological advancements since the 1986 Chernobyl disaster, which occurred when workers at a reactor unit switched off safety systems to conduct tests. The resultant explosion killed two workers, but within three months, another 28 firemen and emergency crew at the scene died of acute radiation sickness.

Experts say the exact nature of long-term health implications of the incident is impossible to determine or predict. At least 1,800 children in the most severely contaminated areas contracted thyroid cancer. A 2005 report by the International Atomic Energy Agency, estimated that up to 4,000 people could eventually die from radiation exposure, but by mid 2005 less than 50 deaths had been attributed to the same.

Although all reactors at the plant were shut, the Chernobyl incident has often elicited emotive debate on nuclear energy and significantly slowed nuclear developments throughout the former Soviet bloc.

While acknowledging that Kenya lacks adequate human resource capacity to handle nuclear power generation, Nuclear Electricity Development Project Secretary David Otwoma says there are plans to review and approve a capacity building plan. The plan, according to the Ministry of Energy, will target young Kenyans with excellent degree qualifications in, but not limited to mechanical and civil engineering, mathematics, physics and chemistry, for purposes of nuclear power research and development.

"We shall need certificate, diploma and degree courses established locally for generating Kenyans who will do the work," says Otwoma.

Institute

A lecturer at the University of Nairobi’s Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology puts the current number of students at eight with more than 50 per cent increase in enrolment in recent years.

"We used to have four students or less," says Michael Mangala, of the Institute which offers basic post-graduate training in application areas of nuclear technology.

Completion of a two-year Masters programme costs no less than Sh500, 000 with many of the department’s alumni having left for the US, South Africa, Germany and other countries.

Wandiga says the country is yet to fully exploit wind, solar and geothermal sources of electricity production, which are viewed as cheaper and safer sources compared to nuclear energy.

Besides needing massive amounts of clean water, Wandiga also takes issue with the toxic waste generated from nuclear plants and Kenya’s lack of proper disposal mechanisms.

"These plants need clean water for cooling. Most of our rivers are heavily sedimented and some of these particles may cause dangerous reactions when radiated," says Wandiga. But according to Otwoma, the country can easily train water chemists and engineers to ensure water used in the plants meets required standards.

Otwoma says wind, solar and hydro energy sources are unreliable and cannot ably support the nation’s industrialisation plans.

He also cites the current Radiation Protection Act, which established the Radiation Protection Board, whose mandate includes licensing of owners of radioactive materials, handling, use and disposal of the same. He, however, adds that there is need to identify requirements and make arrangements for emergency preparedness, security measures and environmental protection.