Kenya forges ahead with plan to invest in nuclear energy
Business
By
By MACHARIA KAMAU
| May 22, 2014
By MACHARIA KAMAU
The body charged with development of nuclear electricity in the country is planning a study on the national electricity grid to establish its compatibility with nuclear electricity.
The Kenya Nuclear Electricity Board (KNEB) yesterday said it was looking for a consultant that would undertake a technical evaluation, which would include an analysis of the electric grid requirements to support proposed nuclear power plants.
“The proposed grid system study will build on the studies already carried out but with a specific emphasis on the nuclear power plants and is expected to take 12 months,” said KNEB in a statement.
The board also expects the consultant to develop plans to improve the current grid, including having a reserve capacity on the grid to support the use of nuclear power plants.
READ MORE
Forget miraa: Discovery of minerals stirs up Meru locals
Kenyan retailers ready to pounce as Ethiopia to open up market
Hiring civil servants on contract will fuel corruption, experts say
KQ suspends flights to Kinshasa over detention of staff
Sugarcane farmers blame woes on Agriculture and Food Authority
Absa Life Assurance earnings jump 84pc to Sh667 million
Ruto pushes rich nations to boost funding for poor States
Counties sitting on Sh1b emergency fund amid raging floods
Poultry players protest US import deal plan
Uptake of AI-powered home solutions low despite many benefits
The Ochilo Ayacko-led board is also pushing for local content in the process of developing nuclear electricity in the country.
Requirements it has set for the consultant include having a team composed of both local and foreign experts for the study.
Power demand
KNEB expects nuclear electricity to play a critical part in meeting power demand, which has been projected to hit 15,000 megawatts over the next 16 years, from the current 1,400MW.
The board was formed in 2010 and has been exploring possibilities of the country generating electricity using nuclear energy in the long term.
It expects to have the first nuclear-fired electricity generation plant by around 2022.
Previous estimates have put the cost of setting up a 1,000 megawatts (mw) nuclear plant at $3.5 billion.
Nuclear energy has been marketed as cleaner and also cheaper, alongside other sources like geothermal, wind and solar.
While it is capital intensive and requires high levels of technical expertise, which is currently scarce in Kenya, it is also cheaper once initial installations are in place.
Kenya’s electricity infrastructure is used for the evacuation of electricity generated through hydro, geothermal, wind and diesel fired thermal sources. Coal and natural gas are expected to form part of the electricity generation mix in the coming years.
“The annual demand has reached seven per cent in the past and this will progressively increase to 15 per cent as Vision 2030 projects are implemented. Demand is expected to reach 15 000mw by 2030,” said KNEB.
- Forget miraa: Discovery of minerals stirs up Meru locals
- Hiring civil servants on contract will fuel corruption, experts say
- Kenyan retailers ready to pounce as Ethiopia to open up market
- KQ suspends flights to Kinshasa over detention of staff
- Is government on 'fuliza' mode?