Kenya has taken a major step in pushing its nuclear ambitions by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the US.
The pact, signed by the Kenya Nuclear Regulatory Authority (KNRA) and the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (US NRC), will facilitate collaboration on the deployment of nuclear in energy, health, and other associated areas.
The MoU was signed on the sidelines of the 2024 International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) General Conference in Vienna on Tuesday.
This partnership will enable KNRA to leverage the expertise of the US NRC, especially in areas of nuclear safety, security, and safeguards.
The agreement also includes provisions for on-the-job training in the operations and regulation of nuclear power programmes.
Kenyans hope to have its first nuclear power plant in 2035.
Present at the signing ceremony were US NRC chairman Christopher Hanson and his KNRA counterpart, Omondi Anyanga.
KNRA Director General James Keter, responding to the event, said: “This MoU has come at a critical juncture for Kenya, and we must get it right.”
The landmark agreement was signed just a day after Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi addressed the general session of the conference.
Mudavadi outlined Kenya’s ambitious plan to integrate nuclear power into the national energy mix as part of a broader strategy to meet the country's growing energy demands.
As of 2023, Kenya's installed energy capacity stands at 3,321 MW, sourced from geothermal (863 MW), hydroelectric power (838 MW), wind (436 MW), solar (173 MW), biomass (2 MW), and thermal energy (678 MW).
However, despite this diversified energy mix, the country still faces an electricity shortfall. Experts predict that nuclear energy will play a key role in addressing this gap and advancing Kenya’s long-term industrialization goals.
“We have a lot in our hands. This MoU would not have come at a better time. We will work with industry leaders and every stakeholder to fortify our regulatory framework to ensure the responsible and effective development of our nuclear programme,” Mr Keter added.
Mr Anyanga expressed optimism about the collaboration, noting, "We believe the MoU will bring substantial benefits to the Kenyan economy. We have made considerable progress and look forward to continued support."
Kenya’s delegation to the conference included Prime Cabinet Secretary Mudavadi, KNRA Chairman Anyanga, KNRA Director General Keter, Ambassador Maurice Markoloo, Nuclear Power and Energy Agency (NuPEA) CEO Justus Wabuyabo, NuPEA Board Member Henry Rono, and KNRA Corporation Secretary Beth Mushi.
The IAEA conference is set to conclude on September 20, 2024.
