The Kenya Nuclear Electricity Board (KNEB) held a training session in Maseno University to educate and sensitise students and lectures on the necessity of Nuclear power in the country.
The training targeted students and lecturers in a bid to influence them to embrace and support Nuclear energy development in Kenya.
Basett Buyukah the Director publicity and Advocacy informed the participants that the Board is working toward the first Nuclear power plant development in the country by the year 2022.
“Our key mandate is to fast track the development of nuclear energy generation in Kenya and therefore we are working toward realising the first nuclear plant in the year 2022,” said Buyukah.
He indicated that Kenya currently produces 1700 MW from Hydroelectric power, wind energy, solar energy and geothermal power which is not sufficient to run the country’s economy.
Bayukah explained the country has adopted the devolved system of government, all the counties will develop and there will be need for power which cannot be satisfied by the 1700MW produced currently
He stressed that if nuclear power programmess are implemented, then much electricity will be produced in the country.
“One nuclear power plant is capable of producing 4000MW, which is even bigger than what the country is currently producing,” he added.
The training was part of their ongoing activities around the country that will see Kenyans understand the importance of nuclear energy and reduce fear among the public on nuclear energy production.
The KNEB officers are moving around the country to sensitise people on nuclear production, to engage the society and the international community on the processes, requirements and regulations and also to encourage students to develop interest in nuclear electricity.
His words were strongly echoed by Joseph Odhiambo, a member of the board who said that Kenyans should learn to overcome fear for the country to develop and vision 2030 to be realised.
Odhiambo indicated that while many Kenyans are still living in fear of the dangers caused by nuclear plants many countries around the world are struggling to construct more.
“Many countries embraced the technology fifty years ago and it has been improving.USA has one hundred and five nuclear reactors and they are still constructing two, China is building twenty four nuclear reactors” He said.