14 March 2017, Nairobi. – Russian State Nuclear Energy Corporation Rosatom shared its best practices with participants of the inaugural Kenya Nuclear Energy Week, regional conference and exhibition. The conference which took place at the KICC in Nairobi Kenya included representatives from the Nigerian and Ghanaian governments, international organizations such as IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) and WNA (World Nuclear Association), members of Kenyan National Assembly, Ministries, KNEB (Kenya Nuclear Energy Board), as well as representatives of the global nuclear industry.
One of the most important aspects of the Russian ready-to-implement solutions is their relevancy to African problems. Speaking on the side-lines of the conference Viktor Polikarpov, Rosatom Regional Vice President for Sub-Saharan Africa, noted that water scarcity is becoming one of the most pressing crises affecting Africa. “Recent droughts have really highlighted the extent of the looming water crises. A reliable supply of water and energy is an important prerequisite for sustainable economic development and our VVER Gen-3+ nuclear reactor unit coupled with a desalination facility is able to provide for both needs”.
As a global leader in comprehensive nuclear technologies and competences, Rosatom puts a premium on developing international cooperation in the peaceful use of atomic technology and does its best to support foreign partners to further develop the industry. A delegation of Rosatom representatives from various fields of expertise arrived in Nairobi to share Russian solutions for nuclear power development for developing countries. The presentations focused on localization, legal framework preparation, skill development as well as technology transfer and stakeholder engagement. All Rosatom innovations and technological developments were on display at a custom stand open to all visitors. Information included a detailed description of the Russian VVER-1200, the first Generation III+ nuclear unit in the world to be put into commercial operation. Its technologies secure the highest level of operational safety and fully meet all post-Fukushima requirements set by the IAEA.
“Having elaborated a long-term plan to secure energy for generations to come and to grow Kenyan industry through a reliable and efficient power source as nuclear energy, Kenya also added impetus to its scientific, industrial and infrastructure development and we applaud these plans”, said Mr. Polikarpov. He highlighted that Russia has 70-years of experience in developing all branches of its nuclear industry, which makes it one of the global leaders in technological breakthroughs.
Additional focus was given to educational support programmes offered by Rosatom to potential partner countries. Rosatom pays special attention to education and therefore provides educational opportunities for future nuclear engineers and specialists. Since 2010 the company has invested millions of dollars into scholarships for bachelor, masters and specialist degree studies through Russian nuclear universities. The project is aimed at supporting potential partner countries to create an integrated system for training qualified nuclear specialists. “We offer a broad range of educational opportunities for foreign students and young specialists to gain relevant knowledge in different scientific fields. There is currently an opportunity for 60 African students to study for a Bachelor’s degree in nuclear-related subjects at one of our cutting edge learning institutions for free”, noted Mr. Polikarpov.
About Russian-Kenyan cooperation in nuclear field:
On May 30, 2016 on the sidelines of the VIII International Forum «ATOMEXPO 2016» the Rosatom and the Kenyan Council for Nuclear Energy have signed a Memorandum of mutual understanding and cooperation in the field of peaceful use of nuclear energy. The Memorandum, for the first time in the history of Russian - Kenyan relations, is creating a basis for cooperation of the two countries in the domain of nuclear energy in a wide area of issues, including: assistance in development of Kenyan nuclear energy infrastructure; fundamental and applied research; design, construction and operation of nuclear energy and research reactors; production and use of radio izotopes in the industry, medicine, and agriculture.