Kenya is planning to build its first nuclear power plant by 2034. This ambitious project has sparked concerns among local residents and activists due to potential safety and environmental risks.
True to that, the country has recently faced its worst climate crisis, including floods, famine and heat waves. For instance, mid this year, the country lost over 400 due to flash flooding.
The proposed plant is expected to be located on the Indian Ocean coast and is estimated to cost around 500 billion Kenyan shillings.
The government believes that the nuclear plant will help increase Kenya’s energy capacity, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and create new jobs.
President William Ruto has expressed his commitment to making Kenya a leader in clean energy and has set a goal of generating 100% of the country’s energy from renewable sources by 2030.
Kenya is currently hosting a US-Africa Nuclear Energy Summit to discuss the continent’s readiness for nuclear power. While South Africa is the only African country with operational nuclear reactors, other nations like Rwanda are exploring the technology as a way to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels.
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