Kenyan experts are divided on the exploitation of nuclear energy even after the Government's Nuclear Electricity Development Project Committee has assured Kenyans that the ongoing internal debate and discourse (on Japan crisis) will inform their decisions on location selection, safety and security requirements.
“Kenya is not ready to exploit nuclear energy in terms of human capital, nuclear physicist, engineers and military experts,” says Prof Shem Wandiga, Chairman, Kenya Chemical Societies Association (KCSA), “we need a long term strategic plan to systematically put our house in order.”
From the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant explosion which has exposed workers and the public to radiation and demonstrations in Germany against the continued exploitation of nuclear energy. Wandiga says: “Kenyans have not been taught to handle any eventuality compounded by lack of technological sophistry, medical facilities and experts.” This is after the committee's executive chairman, Dr. Ochillo Ayako accompanied by Prof. Joseph Malo and Dr. David Otwoma, affirmed: “we hope to stay on course.”
According to the Ministry of Energy, permanent secretary, Mr. Patrick Wanyoike, Kenya’s first nuclear power plant will be commissioned by the year 2022, during his 21st National Economic and Social Council (NESC) presentation.
The huge energy deficit of 3,000 megawatts (MW) experienced by the country necessitates nuclear energy option for consideration, Wanyoike says, adding that even with determined efforts by the government to bridge this deficit through hydro power, oil based thermal, geothermal, co-generation and wind energy generation, the country has since 2006 been operating expensive diesel fired emergency power generation to sustain its energy needs.
“Nuclear energy is the fuel of the 21st century and could be part of the solution for energy security in Kenya,” says Prof. Shaukat Abdulrazak the Secretary of the National Council for Science and Technology (NCST), also a liaison office of the International Atomic and Energy Agency (IAEA), UN agency charged with promotion and utility of nuclear energy for peaceful uses.
Abdulrazak says that nuclear energy will help in mitigating the effects of global warming. He adds that several countries from Africa are joining the bandwagon to include nuclear energy in their energy mix.
Wanyoike points out that the high investments costs to put up a 1,000 MW nuclear power plant is estimated to be US$ 2 to 4 billion – it’s sustainability is favorable when compared with geothermal and coal plants of same capacities in addition to low carbon emissions.
However,“if we are going to import that technology as a black box, then we are going to secure the technology at high costs,” says Wandiga, pointing out other unforeseen challenges: “we don't have the mechanism to deposit the waste - exporting to other countries will not be economically viable.”
“As we are orienting ourselves to exploit nuclear energy some of this funds can be invested in the exploitation of green energy. The Government will be ill advised to invest tax payers money in nuclear energy at the moment,” the chemistry don says.
The production of nuclear energy will afford the development of advanced technology infrastructure and usher close partnership with the IAEA and other countries like France that is tapping 80 percent of its energy from nuclear energy in training Kenyan experts in advanced nuclear technology, Mr. Michael Mangala, a don at Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology (INST).
“Studies have proved that nuclear energy is cheaper notwithstanding requiring huge investment costs – in terms of facilities and human resource,” says Mangala, “its environmental friendly – without gas emissions.”
However Mangala says that nuclear energy waste management is a serious issue that is holding many countries from exploiting nuclear energy. The wastes, if not well managed can affect the normal functioning of body tissues, which in extreme condition can lead to death.“If radioactive materials are stolen they can easily be used by terrorist to achieve their horrific ends,” he says.
The president of Mauritius Academy of Science and Technology, Prof. Soodursun Jugessur regrets that Kenyans are taking this direction - when the world knows that taking care of the radioactive waste product is a challenge that will register destructive effect to the environment.
Jugessur proposes that it will be far much considerable if the US $ 2-4 billion will be invested on renewable energy sources like solar, biomass, geothermal and wind. “This will lead to job creation.”
No comments:
Post a Comment