Gorvernment revealed last week that the country is in advanced stages of building a nuclear power plant with purposes of generating at least 1000 megawatts (MW) of electricity from nuclear power by 2031.
Authorities say, this will help the country diversify its sources of electricity and accelerate its energy transmissions which will in turn boost businesses and play a key part in the country’s response to climate change.
President Yoweri Museveni asserted that his government is keen on exploiting the country’s Uranium and convert it into energy for development. “With our rich uranium reserves, it is only wise for us to take advantage of it’s immense potential and generate electricity that will meet our growing energy demands.” Said President Museveni.
Buyende, approximately 150 kilometers from the capital- Kampala will play host to Nuclear Power Plant.
The energy Minister, Ruth Nankabirwa Ssentamu said that the 9billion dollar nuclear power plant project will commence next year with support from China National Nuclear Corporation.
In 2005, Uganda experienced severe drought that affected the hydrological generation of electricity at River Nile’s Owen falls dam. It is from such lessons that the country has resorted to suplimenting the expensive fossil powered plants with the environmentally friendly energy generating power facilities.
According to experts, Nuclear is the largest source of clean power. It is nearly 8,000 times more efficient at producing energy than traditional fossil fuels.
Nuclear is considered to be the safest and most efficient energy source for generating electricity which powers almost 20% of the world.
It’s one of the most inexpensive and environmental friendly sources of energy. In 2018, the cost of nuclear power was just $35/MWh. This is less than half the cost of coal and gas fired power plants.
The Buyende Nuclear Power Plant will become East Africa’s first atomic energy facility making Uganda Second to South Africa as African countries with active nuclear power plants.
Discussion about this post