Long road to nuclear power

By Alex Kiprotich

When he returned from trips in Europe and Asia, Prime Minister Raila Odinga came with renewed enthusiasm that the country is ready to join the nuclear energy production league.

One of Raila’s stops was France –– the leading producer of nuclear power –– that the PM said would help Kenya to achieve the ambition.

But even as this talk gains momentum, the Director of the Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology (Inst) at the University of Nairobi David Maina says the prospects of producing nuclear power are slim.

Director of the Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology at the University of Nairobi Mr David Maina at the institution’s laboratory. Photo:Andrew Kilonzi/Standard

Maina said the country needs other sources of energy, but the Government is not committed to nuclear energy development.

He said Kenya currently is incapable of running nuclear energy.

"It is easy to make pronouncements but implementation is the hardest bit," he said.

Maina said harnessing nuclear energy for electricity generation requires a huge initial capital investment.

Dr Michael Gatari, a lecturer at the institute, said a nuclear plant is a sensitive and costly investment that does not need trial-and-see mentality.

"A wrong step in one of the processes of developing it can spell doom. It has no time for correction and everything must be perfect," he said.

A nuclear plant financing, security, source and transportation of raw material, waste disposal and international politics are factors that could hinder the foray into nuclear energy. He said the cost, which is around Sh100 billion to produce 1,000 megawatts, is too huge for the economy.

"Though we need this source of power, it is a lie that we can now produce. If we start now, it may take ten years to reach production," he said.

The country, he added, is further disadvantaged since it is hard to find a donor to finance a nuclear plant given its sensitivity.

Mr Michael Mangala, a lecturer at Inst, said security and disposal of nuclear waste is a significant challenge to even countries with the most advanced technologies.

He said Kenya, being a developing country, cannot be trusted by the West to safeguard a nuclear reactor plant. He said uranium, its raw material, could easily fall into the hands of terrorists.

Analytical techniques

"These are some of challenges that hinder us from setting up a nuclear power plant," he said.

He said the university has used nuclear analytical techniques to provide services to private and government institutions.

The institute was established in 1979 from a combined initiative of the Government through the National Council for Science and Technology, International Atomic Energy Agency and the university.

Forty postgraduate students have graduated from the institute in nuclear science. There are plans to start a bachelors degree next year.

Mangala said nuclear science technologies applications are diverse and benefits include increased food production, exploitation of natural resources such as water and minerals, enhancing medical diagnosis and treatment of diseases.

The institute has carried out successful projects in protection of patients against radiation exposure and expansion of radiotherapy and nuclear medicine facilities.

It has also done projects on management of cancer, testing of consumer products, nuclear security screening of trafficked radioactive materials at ports and promotion of non- destructive testing (NDT) in industry and construction.

Mr James Wafula, the head of renewable energy at the institute, said though nuclear power is expensive at initial stages, it is viable because it is stable, cheap and sustainable.

He said substantial energy is needed to spur the economy and the Government need to start investing in nuclear even if it would take long to achieve.

South Africa is the only country in Africa operating nuclear energy for commercial basis.

However, the experts said the need for nuclear power is urgent given the changes in climate and rising oil prices.

Maina said the shift to nuclear energy is understandable given that the country is going through an energy deficit.

The country generates 1,100 mega watt of electricity — including emergency supplies from independent power producers — against a peak time demand of 1,050 MW.

What remains to be seen is if the Government will come up with actionable plan to tap the crucial source of energy.