Nuclear energy - Venturing into nuclear energy for Kenya is a waste of money since the country can produce enough energy for itself, the parliamentary committee on energy and Communication has said, putting in doubt the possibility of the country having nuclear energy by 2017. According to Mr Cyprian Omolo, MP for Uriri constitunecy and member of the committee, the Nuclear Electricity Project committee has done nothing since it was formed in 2010, "other than attend international conferences and swindle public funds in allowances."

"It is waste of money, we have already established that we can produce enough energy for the whole nation given our geothermal resources, if only we channel more money into the projects," he said, adding that geothermal energy was relatively cheaper than nuclear energy.

The committee's chairman and member of Parliament for Karachuonyo, Eng James Rege said the nuclear committee has been sleeping on its job and deliberately remained in the dark.

"They need to keep us in the know and reveal details of their findings and plans so far," he said, adding that the country is already producing more power at a cheaper cost than nuclear.

He was speaking during a trip to the Kenya Electricity Generating Company's Olkaria geothermal plant to witness the first operational mobile well head.

KenGen is in the process of drilling 15 wells expected to contribute 15 per cent to the national grid. Kenya's demand for power has been on the rise and is expected to accelerate as the country draws closer to realising Vision 2030, with such projects as the Konza city and other developments.

"We are aware of the growing demand for power in the country and are doing anything possible to achieve sufficiency for our local consumption and have excess for export," KenGen CEO Eddy Njoroge said.

Nation/22/02/2012