Kenya’s Nuclear Power and Energy Agency, (NuPEA), formerly Kenya Nuclear Electricity Board, said on 5 August that it is seeking regulatory approval for construction of a KES540 billion ($5bn) nuclear power plant in Kenya after it submitted its request to the National Environment Management Authority. NuPEA said it is on course to build and operate Kenya’s first NPP in Tana River by 2027.
“The first nuclear power plant of 1,000MWe, is expected to be commissioned by the year 2027 and it is expected to grow to 4,000MWe by 2035,” NuPEA said, adding that it was evaluating technologies to identify the ideal reactor for Kenya. The modern nuclear reactors available in the international market are large-sized devices in the range 1,000 MWe –1,750 MWe with “proven design technology and performance records”, NuPEA noted.
Four reactors totalling 4,000MWe are projected to be on site by 2035, putting the total cost of the project at about KES 2,000bn.
