During the Oct. 23-26 African Youth Nuclear Summit in Nairobi, Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Forestry Soipan Tuya said nuclear energy could be harnessed sustainably in the continent’s quest for net-zero emissions, and that nuclear energy is perhaps Africa’s last best hope for addressing climate change and empowering sustainable economic development.
Speaking to the press on Oct. 30, Ms. Tuya said, “In the current circumstances, nuclear energy is emerging as a compelling solution to power needs as it offers a clean, reliable and low-carbon alternative to fossil fuels.” The minister said that by 2040, Kenya’s demand for electricity will exhaust its current generation capacity (actually, it already does), “making a powerful case for urgent adoption of nuclear power. We know that nuclear power offers a viable solution to the continent’s energy deficit without exacerbating the negative effects of climate change—thanks to its low carbon footprint.”
