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JF-Expert Member
- May 11, 2013
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Kenya and other countries aiming to produce nuclear energy should reflect carefully on the ramifications of taking that step, a senior US diplomat has said.
Thomas Countryman, assistant secretary of state for international security and non-proliferation, sounded a stronger note of caution specifically in regard to Sudan’s plan to build a nuclear power plant with Chinese assistance.
In an interview with the Nation, Mr Countryman also highlighted a US effort to persuade African nations to sever their military ties with North Korea.
Washington has no concerns in principle regarding development of civilian nuclear technology in East Africa, Mr Countryman said.
He added, however, that “nuclear energy represents a huge decision for any country to make.
In choosing this means of generating electricity, “you are committing yourself and future generations for hundreds and thousands of years to the nuclear fuel cycle and to the cost of maintaining safe disposal” of radioactive wastes, Mr Countryman noted.
“It’s not a decision to be taken lightly by any country,” he said, adding, “I am concerned about countries pursuing nuclear power because it looks like a good deal today.”
Kenya last month signed nuclear technology cooperation agreements with both South Korea and Russia. Kenya made a similar deal last year with China.
NUCLEAR POWER
These initiatives give concrete expression to the Kenyan government’s stated objective of producing nuclear power by the year 2030.
The country is taking preliminary steps toward the goal, a United Nations nuclear power monitoring group reported last year.
A team of experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said at the conclusion of an eight-day mission in August 2015 that Kenya has made “significant progress” in establishing a decision-making framework related to nuclear-power infrastructure.
US urges caution on Kenya's nuclear bid
Thomas Countryman, assistant secretary of state for international security and non-proliferation, sounded a stronger note of caution specifically in regard to Sudan’s plan to build a nuclear power plant with Chinese assistance.
In an interview with the Nation, Mr Countryman also highlighted a US effort to persuade African nations to sever their military ties with North Korea.
Washington has no concerns in principle regarding development of civilian nuclear technology in East Africa, Mr Countryman said.
He added, however, that “nuclear energy represents a huge decision for any country to make.
In choosing this means of generating electricity, “you are committing yourself and future generations for hundreds and thousands of years to the nuclear fuel cycle and to the cost of maintaining safe disposal” of radioactive wastes, Mr Countryman noted.
“It’s not a decision to be taken lightly by any country,” he said, adding, “I am concerned about countries pursuing nuclear power because it looks like a good deal today.”
Kenya last month signed nuclear technology cooperation agreements with both South Korea and Russia. Kenya made a similar deal last year with China.
NUCLEAR POWER
These initiatives give concrete expression to the Kenyan government’s stated objective of producing nuclear power by the year 2030.
The country is taking preliminary steps toward the goal, a United Nations nuclear power monitoring group reported last year.
A team of experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said at the conclusion of an eight-day mission in August 2015 that Kenya has made “significant progress” in establishing a decision-making framework related to nuclear-power infrastructure.
US urges caution on Kenya's nuclear bid
