Kenya and Iran held discussions as an Iranian delegation, led by President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad, travelled to the African country last week.
Kenya’s Premier Raila Odinga said Kenya has a lot to learn from Iran about nuclear technology as he believes that the technology will be the most cost efficient form of alternative energy. "How can we talk of industrializing by 2030 when we only have about 1,300 MW of power while countries like South Africa and Iran have over 40,000 MW? Only nuclear energy can give us the much needed impetus to meet energy demands of Vision 2030," he said.
Other forms of alternative energy being explored to diversify the energy sector are using coal to support hydro power and geothermal energy.
However, a Nairobi University nuclear science don Michael Mangala disagrees with Kenya going nuclear before proper plans are put in place, saying the country has inadequate manpower and lacks a policy to handle such sensitive technology.
"Nuclear energy is cheaper and less harmful to the environment if well handled it professionally but in Africa, particularly Kenya, we are disadvantaged since we don’t have a national policy on nuclear energy and highly skilled manpower that is needed to handle such a highly sensitive sector including nuclear reactors," Mangala told East African Business Week at the Institute of Nuclear Science.
A deal between the two countries could turn heads of Western powers as Iran’s nuclear program is already a controversial topic.
