Kenya's Nuclear Power and Energy Agency (NuPEA) has unveiled a strategic plan for the development of its nuclear power programme over the next five years, as the country prepares to build its first nuclear power plant. The ‘2023-2027 Strategic Plan’ identifies six strategic issues: nuclear infrastructure development; stakeholder engagement and advocacy; energy research and innovation; energy capacity development; research reactor program and institutional sustainability. NuPEA estimates that it will require about KES 36.2bn (US$273m) to implement its nuclear five-year plan.
NuPEA notably said that it will require at least KES11bn (US$83m) by 2027 as the initial cost of developing Kenya’s first nuclear reactor. NuPEA will require KES3bn (US$23m) in 2026 and KES8bn (US$60m) in 2027 for the project. Kenya plans to commission its first reactor between 2030 and 2034. In late 2023, NuPEA had announced a potential project for a 1 GW nuclear power plant, which would be located in the county of Kilifi or the county of Kwale (southern Kenya).