Kenya moves to build first-ever nuclear research reactor
Plans are underway to establish Kenya’s first-ever nuclear research reactor. The project which is expected to push the country towards future nuclear power production requires an estimated Sh11 billion ($83 million).
Leading the nuclear power programme, the Nuclear Power and Energy Agency (NuPEA) has said that the initial 40 percent of the costs for the project will be requested from Treasury in two tranches.
The Agency will require Sh3 billion ($22 million) and Sh8 billion ($60 million) in 2026 and 2027 respectively for the project which will be constructed at Konza Technopolis on 65 acres of land.
“The main utilisations envisaged include: enhancing national research and development capabilities and intergovernmental collaborations; improving and encouraging industrial competitiveness; enhancing material structure study for various applications; quality in material design and manufacturing; production of radioisotopes for medical and industrial applications; improving calibration and testing services for industrial and medical instruments; and education and training of students and staff of various institutions,” NuPEA was quoted by Businessdailyafrica.
This is expected to be the largest project for NuPEA.
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The project was inspired by a review of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) during a nine-day mission where it was concluded that the country has made “significant progress” in the development of the national nuclear infrastructure for the country’s new research reactor programme.
The project is expected to commence in 2026 and will be commissioned between 2030 and 2034.
Research reactors are nuclear reactors used for research, education, and training.
