IAEA approves Uganda’s plan for nuclear power plant

• 2 years ago (2022-05-12)
• David Flin

Africa 320 Nuclear 659

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The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has cleared Uganda to start building a 2000 MW nuclear power plant. Aline des Cloizeaux, Director in Charge of Nuclear Power for Africa, said that IAEA has come up with recommendations for Uganda to start building and production of nuclear power. She said: “In the first phase, we have concluded that Uganda is ready for the plant. We in the agency, we are ready for all the support through training so that the project becomes reality.”

Uganda’s President Museveni said that the reason the country is developing nuclear power is that hydropower sources are not sufficient for its needs.

Sidronius Opolot Okasai, Uganda Minister of State for Energy, said Uganda has adopted the IAEA phased approach for the development of national infrastructure for nuclear power. The approach consists of three phases. Phase one involves understanding commitments, obligations, and resource requirements before embarking on the nuclear power project. Phase two is building specialised nuclear institutions and preparatory work toward construction. Phase three is managing construction and preparing for commissioning and operation.

Okasai said that a site had already been identified.