Nuclear energy in Kenya: Identification of potential sites

12 August 2009

The Government of Kenya has recently announced that two potential construction sites have been identified for its future nuclear power station, as SciDev.net reports.

The first potential site is close to the Kenyan coast, and is currently undergoing an environmental survey. Once this has been completed, in about September 2010, construction work could be started.

The second site is in the western part of the country, near Lake Victoria.

This project should allow Kenya to quadruple its present production of electricity, which amounts to 1,100 megawatts per year.

David Maina, Director of Nuclear Science and Technology at the University of Nairobi, has told SciDev.net that the cost of construction of this plant may come to close on 80 billion Kenyan Shillings, or 1 billion Dollars. <br/> <br/>  Kenya could therefore become the second country in Africa to possess a totally operational nuclear power plant after South Africa.<br/>

Category: Energy