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A third of the almost 30 countries currently considering nuclear power are in Africa, with Kenya hoping to have its first nuclear power plant in 2037. Kenya Nuclear Regulatory Authority (KNRA) officials held talks with South Korean nuclear experts intending to hammer out a cooperation agreement.
A third of the almost 30 countries currently considering nuclear power are in Africa, with Kenya hoping to have its first nuclear power plant in 2037. Kenya Nuclear Regulatory Authority (KNRA) officials held talks with South Korean nuclear experts intending to hammer out a cooperation agreement. The meeting discussed the regulatory aspects of Kenya’s nuclear power program and how the country could benefit from South Korea’s experience. The KNRA team led by board chairman Omondi Anyanga and Director General James Keter said Kenya’s successful nuclear power debut will largely depend on funds, adequate regulatory controls, and the development of manpower.
South Korea has supported Kenya in many ways. The country looks forward to productive engagements in many respects and there is a lot to learn from South Korea’s journey with nuclear energy, stated Keter after the meeting. The Director General further said South Korean institutions had in the past trained many nuclear experts from Kenya and other African countries. Anyanga said KNRA will work closely with international partners, research agencies, academics, and the Nuclear Power and Energy Agency to prepare adequately for what he termed Kenya’s nuclear take-off.
The visiting South Korean delegation comprised Yunhwa Choi, the Programme Manager of Korea’s Nuclear Non-proliferation Education and Research Center (KAIST), Prof. Sung Yim KAIST Vice President, Dr Bum-Jin Chung of Kyung Hee University who is also the President of the Korea Nuclear Society and Dr In-Cheol Lim, Vice President of the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute. Bum-Jin, who has previously made a substantial input towards Rwanda’s nuclear pursuits, said part of their interest was to understand the level Kenya,
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In the regulatory development journey, KNRA is seeking financial support on viable financing options for regulation development since such a process is capital-intensive. Experts say there are concerns about the continent’s readiness to harness nuclear energy and get it right. The meeting came barely a month after Kenya kicked off a special post-graduate training on nuclear and radiation safety. This is being overseen by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Kenya Nuclear Regulatory Authority in conjunction with local universities and hospitals.
