South Korea and Kenya Close Deal on Nuclear Energy

South Korea's state company Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO) closed a deal with Kenya to develop a nuclear energy in the African country.

Kenya aims to improve its electricity sources by setting 4,000 megawatts of nuclear energy by 2033. The Kenyan Nuclear Electricity Board (KNEB) and KEPCO already signed the memorandum stating the nations' mutual understanding and partnership in the nuclear energy development project.

Kenya currently holds the largest economy in East Africa. However, electricity interruptions are common in the country due to inadequate capacity of generators and old energy networks. As a result, many business establishments in Nairobi have to secure back-up generators to support their operations.

On the other hand, South Korea is known for its well-developed nuclear industry as it is the fifth biggest consumer of nuclear power worldwide. All operations are under the management of KEPCO. Fortune reported that in 2009, the state-owned company was awarded a contract to establish four reactors, currently under construction in the United Arab Emirates.

Generation of nuclear electricity in Kenya is planned to take place in 2027. Other than KEPCO, the African nation will also work with the Korean Nuclear Association for International Cooperation (KNAIC) and KEPCO International Graduate School (K-INGS) to iron the project.

The South Korea-Kenya partnership aims to provide knowledge, skills development and training to the latter nation's citizens to gear them up for the anticipated nuclear power project.

KNEB will conduct feasibility studies that will help in the identification of promising sites for the establishment of nuclear power plants in Kenya. In connection to these, sixteen students from Kenya enrolled in K-INGS Nuclear Power Engineering course, Citizen TV reported.

The International Atomic Energy Agency commended the progress of the project in Kenya and advised the nation to form a regulatory board.

Kenya also signed pacts with China, Russia and Slovakia for the nuclear power project.