Siaya: The Nuclear Power and Energy Agency (NuPEA) has affirmed its commitment to work closely with the County Assembly of Siaya and other institutions as the Agency prepares to roll out its first-ever nuclear power plant. A delegation of the Agency's leaders paid a courtesy call on Siaya County Assembly Speaker, George Okode where discussions centered on public awareness, cooperation, and potential economic opportunities.
According to Kenya News Agency, Okode assured the delegation that elected representatives are ready to cooperate with the agency to ensure residents are fully informed. He noted that legislators play a key role in bridging the gap between government projects and the people, especially on sensitive projects such as nuclear energy. 'The Assembly is committed to ensuring our people understand the risks, the mitigation measures in place, and most importantly, the benefits this project will bring to their lives and livelihoods,' Okode said.
The meeting came as NuPEA prepares to roll out a series of public participation exercises in Siaya with eight potential sites identified to host the power plant located in Bondo and Rarieda sub counties. These sessions are intended to demystify nuclear energy, dispel misinformation and build public confidence in the ambitious project.
NuPEA Board Chairperson Prof. Lawrence Gumbe emphasized the agency's determination to break ground before 2027 for Kenya's first nuclear power plant, which will be hosted in Siaya. He further revealed that the plant is expected to start producing energy by 2034, marking a historic milestone for the country's energy sector. 'We are committed to breaking ground before 2027 and having power produced there before 2034,' Prof. Gumbe stated.
To bring information closer to the people, the agency also announced plans to open a liaison office in Siaya town. The office will serve as a resource center, where residents can access accurate information, ask questions, and raise concerns about the project. 'We are going to have very robust stakeholder engagements, and very soon on the 14th of October we are going to open our liaison office in Siaya,' Gumbe explained.
According to Gumbe, the nuclear power plant will be a game-changer on Kenya's energy landscape. He disclosed that the facility, estimated to cost Sh500 billion, will generate 100,000 megawatts of electricity, a massive leap from the country's current output of 3,400 megawatts. He explained that while some skepticism exists, nuclear energy is among the safest and most reliable sources of power globally. 'Nuclear energy is extremely safe, a lot of safeguards are put in place and in constructing our plant we will be following guidelines from the International Atomic Energy Agency, which has very strict standards, so we assure you that there is a lot of safety factored in the plant,' he stated.
The board chairperson also addressed economic concerns, noting that the construction phase of the nuclear plant is estimated to create between 7,000 and 10,000 jobs and upon completion, the facility is expected to sustain between 1,000 and 2,000 permanent jobs, directly benefiting the local population. The county assembly Speaker echoed similar sentiments, urging residents to embrace the project, while remaining actively engaged in its development stages.
NuPEA Board's visit to the Assembly is a significant step in the Agency's efforts to lay the groundwork for one of the most ambitious energy projects in Kenya. The agency hopes that through partnership with county leaders, stakeholders and residents, the nuclear project will not only meet Kenya's growing energy needs, but also spur socio-economic development in Siaya and the country at large.