NuPEA CEO Justus Wabuyabo during a past meeting/FILEIn recent months, Kilifi has been attracting a lot of interest. One of the thorny issues that has caused this is the protests by some activists and local residents.
They have been joined by a section of politicians from the region in amplifying the voice against the proposal.
Some of those opposed to the project have questioned why Kilifi was chosen for that purpose and not any other place in Kenya.
Kenya has been implementing her nuclear power programme since 2010.
This looks like a long time because of the stringent preparatory activities involved.
It is not just about money.
Even rich nations such as UAE took no less than 14 years to commission the first commercial nuclear power-Barakah Nuclear Power Plant.
The reason for this long wait is attributable to the obvious fact that considering the serious risks around nuclear technology, any implementation must be undertaken meticulously.
For that reason, Kenya has been following the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) Milestone Approach which involves three critical stages of pre-project considerations, project decision making and construction.
In each phase, a country like Kenya is expected to address her mind to 19 “infrastructure issues.”
To implement a nuclear project, you require a site which will meet the requirements of such a sensitive initiative.
For that reason, Nuclear Power and Energy Agency (NuPEA) undertook a thorough, multi-stage process to identify the most suitable location.
This process followed internationally recognised safety standards, including that of the IAEA.
NuPEA began by assessing the entire country to identify regions with the potential to host a nuclear power facility.
Nuclear power plants require large amounts of water to cool their reactors and to steam generation to turn the turbines to generate electricity.
In identifying possible sites, areas near large water bodies such as oceans, lakes and large rivers present the best options.
It is for this reason that Coast with its Indian Ocean and Nyanza and Turkana with their lakes featured prominently.
This is the same reason that qualified Tana River for consideration.
In applying this criteria, a number of locations were identified in Lamu, Kilifi and Kwale counties. Sites were also identified in Siaya, Turkana and Tana River for evaluation.
Earthquakes and Floods
Nuclear power plants should be located at places which are seismically stable and safe.
Areas that experience frequent earthquakes are not good for hosting nuclear plants because they lack geological stability.
An earthquake poses serious risks to a nuclear plant in the sense that it can compromise its safety.
When an earthquake occurs it can cause damage to critical systems which may lead to widespread failures.
If you have an earthquake that is so strong as to affect infrastructure, it can make it impossible, it may lead to devastating consequences including the release of radioactive materials into the environment.
Thorough national screening areas within and around the Rift Valley which generally lack geological stability and are susceptible to volcanic risks were considered less suitable.
This is the main reason Lake Turkana region was removed from further consideration.
A nuclear plant should also never be built in regions which are prone to floods or low lands and this is the main reason why Tana River and Lamu lost favor.
A nuclear power plant near a load center will also mean less system losses during transmission.
Transport System
It is also a good idea to have the plant in an area with good road network.
Nuclear power plants need a reliable system to move in and out large, specialised equipment, including nuclear fuel, heavy machinery, and waste.
A railway is an ideal system of transport as it allows for the efficient transport of large and bulky items.
A look at the railway system of our country excludes northern Kenya which also has the curse of being water scarce.
Kenya’s search for its first nuclear power site involved screening locations in the Coast, Nyanza, and Turkana regions.
A multidisciplinary team, in collaboration with government agencies, conducted field visits and data collection.
Sites with geological risks, evacuation challenges, or high construction costs were excluded.
The remaining sites were shortlisted and ranked using a structured model based on safety, cost, environmental, and social factors. Sites which were found to be prone to risks would be removed from further consideration.
Security Concerns
In considering where our first nuclear plant could be located, we took into account areas that have a history of terrorist attacks.
But this was not a debilitating factor since we have a government that is capable of assuring security throughout its national territory.
Nuclear projects just like any other project have consequences to society.
In considering possible sites, the experts had to address the potential effects on local communities.
Would the project result in mass displacements of people? Were there protected areas such as shrines or historical and national heritage sites?
NuPEA’s site identification work for Kenya’s nuclear power plants was reviewed and endorsed by the IAEA and independent experts for both its methodology and findings.
The review raised concerns about volcanic hazards in the Lake Victoria and Lake Turkana regions.
This is because they lie within or near the Rift Valley, making them less suitable due to potential long-term safety risks-though not entirely ruled out.
Following the analysis, the Coast region emerged as the most suitable. Its location by the Indian Ocean provides an unlimited water supply and easier access for importing large, heavy reactor components.
Transporting such equipment inland would be costly, strain road infrastructure, and raise significant security challenges.
Why Kilifi?
Within the Coast region, Kilifi County emerged as the preferred site.
It offered all the advantages for a sustainable development of a nuclear project.
It has low seismic risk, a good geological stability, no nearby volcanic activity, and proximity to the Indian Ocean with its large ports for offloading any kind of cargo.
Additionally, Kilifi is well-connected by a good road all the way from Mombasa to Malindi which is currently under expansion. It is close to Mariakani substation with generally good grid connectivity.
The coast region also has several industrial parks and other industries which promise to consume the huge energy to be generated from the nuclear power plant.
Kilifi also has a relatively low population density.
It is important to note that selecting Kilifi as a potential site does not mean a final decision to build there.
Detailed investigations will follow to confirm technical, environmental, and safety suitability for licensing.
These steps ensure compliance with national and international safety standards.
Even if Kilifi is confirmed, an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and stakeholder engagement will still be required to secure the necessary social license for the project's success.
