The youth will be incorporated in the country’s plan to build a nuclear power plant by 2034, Nuclear Power and Energy Agency (NuPEA) has assured.
The Director, Strategy and Planning at NuPEA Dr Winnie Ndubai said the inclusion of young people in the programme is critical for the success of the programme.
“The youth are very critical because they will form the workforce for the nuclear power plant once it is established. They will operate it for 60 to 100 years,” she said.
NuPEA is charged with the responsibility of promoting and implementing Kenya's nuclear power programme; and carrying out research and development for the energy sector.
Speaking at the close of the US-Africa Nuclear Energy Summit 2024 in Nairobi, Ndubai said it is important to attract the right talents and for young people to understand that there are great careers in nuclear industry.
“We also want to ensure the local industry has an understanding of the role they can play in Kenya’s nuclear power programme,” she added.
The chairperson of Rwanda Atomic Energy Board Lassina Zerbo said it is important to convince African governments and the civil society that nuclear energy is the way to go.
“I see no other way for the continent to achieve industrialisation and social economic development without nuclear energy,” he said.
“Technology has evolved and we have small modular reactors, which bring fantastic opportunities for the continent. We will be dealing with a much safer secure source of energy if we go nuclear,” he added.
Experts called for public education to dispel fears and address misconceptions regarding nuclear energy.
The call for public education comes at a time when Kenya and several African countries among them Uganda and Rwanda are planning to build nuclear plants or are actively seeking partnerships with the West to set up Small Modular Reactors.
Nuclear power has long been a topic of polarising discussion, with proponents highlighting its low carbon emissions and capacity to generate large amounts of energy, while critics express concerns over safety and waste disposal.
On Wednesday, Energy CS Opiyo Wandayi said the government is seeking partnerships in the quest to build a nuclear power plant in 10 years.
Wandayi, who was officially opening the meeting, said Kenya will work with global partners to ensure that the country adheres to the highest standards of safety and industry readiness.
He added that by fostering bilateral and multilateral partnerships, Kenya will benefit from global best practices and technological innovations, ensuring a smooth and secure transition to nuclear energy.
Delegates at the conference were drawn from the USA, South Africa, Ghana, Uganda, Nigeria, France, Botswana, Cameroon, Tanzania, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Morocco, Austria, Somalia, Benin, Namibia and Mauritius.
