Nuclear energy is pivotal in meeting energy demands and a key pillar in climate change mitigation, Uganda the president
By Aysha Nabukeera
Uganda president Yoweri Museveni has today inaugurated a three-day international conference on Africa Nuclear Business Platform (AFNBP 2023) in Kampala.
Nuclear energy is pivotal in the fight against climate change and countries must include nuclear energy in discussions to achieve decarbonization and net zero.
“In 2005, Uganda descended into a power crisis following a prolonged draught that affected water levels at Owen falls dam. This resulted in a decline in hydropower generation output. Our planning changed since then, we resolved to diversify the national energy mix, which is now mainly based on hydroelectricity, to the introduction of nuclear power,” the president said.
“Uganda’s population is growing and demand for energy is increasing, we believe that nuclear energy is pivotal in meeting energy demands and a key pillar in climate change mitigation,” the president added.
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Nuclear Energy Mikhail Chudakov, said that the agency supports member states that seek to promote peaceful use of nuclear energy.
He added that countries must include nuclear energy in discussions to achieve decarbonization and net zero.
Delegates from Unites States of America, Europe, Asia, Africa and South America are gathering in Kampala, to discuss nuclear energy developments in Africa and explore areas of strategic collaborations to move African countries’ nuclear industry forward.
Seven sub-Saharan African countries, including Uganda, Ghana, Nigeria, Sudan, Rwanda, Kenya and Zambia have committed to having nuclear energy as part of their energy mix between 2030 to 2037.
All these countries have developed national positions on having nuclear energy and have engaged with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to assist in their nuclear power programs.
Uganda recently hosted the IAEA Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review Mission to evaluate the status of nuclear infrastructure development in the country and announced last week it will begin construction of the country’s first nuclear facility, for peaceful use of atomic energy.
Currently in Africa, only South Africa has an active nuclear power plant, while Russia’s state-owned energy corporation Rosatom commenced construction of Egypt’s first nuclear facility last year.
Source: AA
