- The Government of Uganda has begun reviewing its uranium potential.
- As part of Uganda’s energy policy, the government seeks to develop 52,481 megawatts of electricity, of which 24,000 will be nuclear energy.
The Government of Uganda has begun reviewing its uranium potential ahead of a plan to develop nuclear energy by 2031.
Mr Emmanuel Wamala, the Ministry of Energy acting commissioner for nuclear fuel and radioactive waste, said Uganda was still at the exploration stage of the production cycle, which will lead to a uranium deposit.
“We have engaged the International Atomic Energy Agency in different stages. They have been with us from the time we started exploration. They have guided us through capacity building, supply of equipment, and also making sure that we have reviews,” he said, noting that the review mission looks at four phases after exploration, from exploration to and eventually to the uranium production cycle phase, which entails the construction of a uranium mine and a processing facility.
Under the Integrated Uranium Production Cycle Review Mission, the review will examine the country’s preparedness for nuclear energy production in terms of laws, capacity, reserves, safety, and environmental protection, among other things.
However, the government has identified uranium anomalies so far in the exploration phase, which should be qualified before production. As part of Uganda’s energy policy, the government seeks to develop 52,481 megawatts of electricity, of which 24,000 will be nuclear energy.
Mr Wamala indicated that a nuclear power plant of 1,000 megawatts requires about 1,14 tonnes of uranium, which means that the 24,000 megawatts, if they are all operational, will need about 4,000 tonnes, noting that the government would only be sure of its resource capacity after going through the exploration stage.
“Once we discover the deposit, we shall use these resources for the nuclear power programme,” he said.
The Ministry of Energy Permanent Secretary Irene Batebe said there are preparations for the introduction of nuclear energy in the electricity generation mix, noting that after the International Atomic Energy Agency has cleared Uganda on phase three, the country will then need to demonstrate that it is building a critical mass, which includes more nuclear experts that will operate the plant for its lifetime.