Kenya's nuclear regulator backs swift energy transition at COP28

Lined up for discussion this week at the ongoing COP28 climate change conference in Dubai, are avenues of new nuclear technologies, youth role and the nuclear road-map in bridging the world's rising energy needs.

On Thursday, Kenyan officials said the country was fully prepared to safely harness nuclear in the critical fields of energy, health, research and security even as the United Nations-led talks entered the second week.

In the clamour for zero-carbon energy solutions several governments, led by the United States and UAE, have been pilling pressure to have an overall pledge on tripling renewable energy by 2030 included in the final COP28 resolutions due on November 12. 

Kenya Nuclear Regulatory Authority (KNRA) Director for Partnerships and Public Awareness Edward Mayaka said with adequate regulatory structures, partnerships with industry leaders and constant capacity building, Kenya is confident of safety embracing nuclear guided by International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) guidelines.  

“Nuclear energy offers several advantages in the context of addressing climate change. Unlike fossil fuels, nuclear power plants generate electricity through a process that produces virtually no direct carbon emissions. This characteristic alone makes nuclear energy an attractive option for countries striving to reduce their carbon footprint and meet ambitious emissions reduction targets,” Mr Mayaka told journalists at the sidelines of COP28.

The US, UAE and like-minded allies such as Brazil, Nigeria, Australia, Japan, Canada, Chile and Barbados are rallying as many nations as possible to commit to doubling the rate of their energy efficiency by 2030.

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), the global renewable energy supply from solar, wind, hydro, geothermal and ocean rose last year by 8 per cent, meaning that the share of these technologies in total global energy supply rose by 0.4 percentage points to 5.5 per cent.

Most countries, especially in the Global South rely on hydroelectric power without diversifying electricity sources. For Kenya, estimates show the country’s total installed energy capacity as comprising 863 MW geothermal, 838 MW hydro, 436 MW wind, 2 MW biomass, 173 MW solar and 678 MW of thermal.

This week in Dubai, the COP28 energy sector pavilion has witnessed a beehive of activities, with experts, researchers, country representatives, civil society and other energy-leaning players making a renewed case for a just energy transition in a new anti-fossil fuels crusade.

Mr.Mayaka said that in the realm of renewables notably wind, solar and nuclear which are being fronted because they do not add to the carbon dioxide footprint nuclear is a front runner given that it is dispatchable unlike the other two. “An observation of world trends point to a nuclear renaissance with African countries like Egypt already on course in nuclear,” he said. 

Kenya hopes to have its first nuclear power plant up and running by 2035. Analysts say nuclear power plants have a cost advantage besides a remarkable track record of reliability and stability. They provide a steady source of electricity, which can be critical for developing nations looking to build resilient energy infrastructures capable of withstanding impacts of climate change.

Previous COPs have had mixed reactions on the energy front, with resolutions providing even greater fodder for divisions on how best to decarbonize the energy sector. Delegates and green energy proponents will be waiting with bated breath as COP28 enters a crucial phase this week.