The Ugandan government said that as part of its attempts to diversify its electricity resources and quicken its energy transition, which is a crucial aspect of its response to climate change, it wants to generate at least 1000 megawatts (MW) from nuclear power by 2031.
The East African nation intends to investigate its substantial uranium reserve, according to a report by the American news agency Reuters. Yoweri Museveni, the president of Uganda, declared that his government was anxious to take advantage of the nation’s uranium for potential nuclear energy development.
To this effect, Uganda inked a deal with China that stipulates that the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) would assist Uganda in developing capabilities for the peaceful use of atomic energy.
According to the report, the first nuclear facility, Buyende Nuclear Power Plant, would be constructed roughly 150 kilometers (93 miles) north of Kampala.
“Preparation to evaluate the Buyende Nuclear Power Plant site is ongoing to pave the way for the first nuclear power project expected to generate 2,000 MW, with the first 1000 MW to be connected to the national grid by 2031,” Energy and Mines Minister Ruth Nankabirwa Ssentamu stated.
She continued, “Uganda is making serious efforts to incorporate nuclear energy into the mix of electrical generation to maintain energy security and provide enough electricity for industrialization.”
Only South Africa now operates a nuclear power plant, but last year, Rosatom, the state-owned energy company of Russia, started building Egypt’s first nuclear facility.
Although Uganda has an installed generation capacity of about 1,500 MW, officials predict that as oil exports fuel economic growth, the country’s energy needs will increase.
