Kenya Seeks Nuclear Power Infrastructure

New submitter Snirt writes "Kenya is seeking to develop a viable nuclear energy program within the next 15 years to meet its growing energy demands. A government commission formed last year is conducting a feasibility study and the University of Nairobi is setting up programs to train people for the nuclear program. Critics say they're concerned about plant worker safety and the risk of environmental contamination. Some 86 percent of Kenyans do not have access to electricity, relying on firewood and kerosene to meet their energy needs. Electricity is expensive(1$=KES 90), and the supply is limited."

Re:Expensive?

[Anonymous Coward]

Any problem?

GDP per capita (PPP)
Sweden: $38,204
Yemen: $2,700
Kenya: $1,711

Re:Expensive?

[timnbron]

My friend gets by with one light bulb in the lounge. He's usually using 1-2kWh per month. I think he's about average for Nairobi suburbia. Some households might have a TV and fridge. And a few more light bulbs on at once.

Go Solar

[mark99]

Kenya should probably go solar since it scales better at the small end, requires less transmission infrastructure. It is interesting that it doesn't seem to have much more sunlight than many American cities, at least according to casual web search:

      http://www.climatetemp.info/kenya/ [climatetemp.info]

      http://www.currentresults.com/Weather/US/average-annual-sunshine-by-city.php [currentresults.com]

Re:Expensive?

[arcite]

True, and in Kenya the average person spends over 50% of their income on food, which doesn't leave much for luxuries such as electricity. I am sure though, that if a nuclear power plant were built they would subsidize access to electricity to the poor. Most people in Kenya pirate their electricity as it is anyway.

The issue is infrastructure

[solarissmoke]

The sun is not our only asset. Already a significant proportion of our power comes from hydroelectric and geothermal plants, and there is scope for (and investment happening in) much more.

The biggest problem we face is not sourcing energy, but in dealing with the huge inefficiencies and rickety infrastructure that we currently have. Here in Nairobi have power cuts several times a week (not because of lack of supply, but because of regular failures in the poorly maintained grid). As it happens, the transformer right outside my home has exploded (literally) and been replaced four times in the last three months. Most businesses in Nairobi have invested in back up generators because the supply is so unreliable.

One major obstacle to real improvement is the fact that the Kenya Power and Lighting Company operates a monopoly on electricity sales in Kenya, and there is no incentive for it to reduce costs and improve infrastructure. They posted record profits in 2011, at the same time as electricity prices in the country reached record highs.

A Kenyan perspective

[jmugambi]

Energy is VERY expensive in Kenya, and unfortunately so (calculations given are realistic). There are reasons to this, and the situation could be better. Would love it if our Government go solar over nuclear (alot of the country has suitable weather). I don't quite trust the current structures in place - especially regarding adhering to standards rules regulations etc. Not sure though if any other source of energy will meet the obvious needs. Most energy needs are concentrated around Nairobi (capital) and other major towns. Much of rural Kenya has no electricity. For domestic use, I would think solar is ideal especially in areas outside of the grid, just that most cannot afford the components. I'm not sure if many here quite grasp the meaning of living below the poverty line. Yet others in rural areas may not see the use of having energy for say a washing machine or microwave in their homes unless (1) they see the need for it, and more importantly (2) they can afford it. Proximity to Somalia: peace in Somalia would be hugely beneficial to the region, what with the piracy, and the threat of terrorism one would be understandably be nervous. Now replying to some of the spicier remarks: "... if they can steal tarmac off the road to make a floor for the house, I'm sure they'll grab a solar panel and rig a car headlamp to it... " Not quite practical - stealing tarmac - just think about it (and some of the roads are so bad there's no tarmac to steal anyway). However, solar panels do get stolen... "They're using nuclear power as a front for developing weapons of mass destruction" - As a country that has suffered a terrorist attack on more than one occassion, why? In bad taste this. (Kenyan)

You lie! It's sad.

[bogaboga]

With sunshine and 30C+ temperatures throughout the year..."

This is a lie. A big one sadly. Despite being on the equator, Kenya and other countries that the equator crosses never have temperatures beyond 30 degrees Celsius for more than 3 months in a year.

In fact for Nairobi, their capital, you will freeze at night and temps never go beyond 28 degrees Celsius for most of the day. Google Nairobi weather (I just did) and you'll find temperature now (it's almost noon there) at 23 degrees Celsius.

Why is it that most people in the west (who are supposed to be the best informed), are misinformed about Africa? Why?

This BBC link [bbc.co.uk]should help educate you to an extent.

Re:Expensive?

[MaskedSlacker]

The exact opposite really: they want to fall into a lower energy state from which they cannot escape. Being free costs energy.

Re:You lie! It's sad.

[Christian Smith]

With sunshine and 30C+ temperatures throughout the year..."

This is a lie. A big one sadly. Despite being on the equator, Kenya and other countries that the equator crosses never have temperatures beyond 30 degrees Celsius for more than 3 months in a year.

In fact for Nairobi, their capital, you will freeze at night and temps never go beyond 28 degrees Celsius for most of the day. Google Nairobi weather (I just did) and you'll find temperature now (it's almost noon there) at 23 degrees Celsius.

Probably more to do with Nairobi's elevation. Nairobi is quite a way above sea level, the air thinner, and therefore not retaining as much heat as at sea level. But as solar cells or solar heating devices rely on solar radiation, rather than the resulting ambient heat, solar devices would be very effective nonetheless.

Why not both?

[JSBiff]

I don't understand why this always has to be an either/or argument. Personally, I'm of the opinion that solar, wind, and nuclear all have a role to play in providing energy.

If Kenya had a small modular nuclear reactor or two, they could provide baseload power to their own country, and possibly even have enough surplus to export some electricity to neighbors (bringing net revenue to the country).

Solar and/or Wind can provide energy, but they don't really provide any kind of guarantee that you'll have electricity all the time - the Sun doesn't always shine. Yes, you can do things like molten salts to store some of the Sun's energy, but there's a limit to how much you can store. You might have enough storage to last you through the night, but will the salt still be hot enough in the morning, if it's cloudy?

Solar is a good peaking power source - the Sun's energy tends to peak around the same hours that human demand for electricity peaks (because people are doing business, and running washers, dryers, and stoves, which they don't tend to do after dark). Nuclear is a good baseload power source.

People pointing out that solar can come online faster are correct, so that's partly why I favor a combination of both nuclear and solar/wind for both developing nations, and developed nations - get the solar built quickly and start benefiting from it, while also beginning the process of building some reactors.