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The announcement came during the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between KenGen and NuPEA establishing a Joint Engagement Framework to guide national readiness for nuclear power. The agreement launches one of the most comprehensive public-engagement initiatives in Kenya’s energy history, aimed at building understanding, confidence, and preparedness as the country evaluates nuclear power as a future component of its energy mix. Wandayi emphasised that the partnership prioritises transparent communication and scientific accuracy. “This MOU will deepen public awareness, strengthen stakeholder engagement, enhance institutional capabilities, and prepare the ground for a reliable low-carbon baseload option,” he said. KenGen Chairman Alfred Agoi noted that
KenGen has long experience and expertise in construction, operation and maintenance of power plants ranging from Geothermal, hydro, wind, solar and now ready to lead the next phase to help Kenya develop its first nuclear power plant.” KenGen Managing Director and CEO Peter Njenga said: “Our partnership with NuPEA signals our readiness to play a central role in shaping Kenya’s energy future, anchored in industrial growth, job creation, and global competitiveness.” Under the MOU, KenGen and NuPEA will
establish a Joint Working Group responsible for: developing a national communication and public-engagement strategy, mapping key stakeholder groups across all counties, implementing nationwide public education and media campaigns, convening technical forums and expert dialogues, training journalists, county officials, educators, and community leaders on nuclear fundamentals, and creating a joint feedback and grievance-response mechanism aligned with global best practice. The Framework will also support early-
stage siting and land-related processes, with KenGen contributing expertise from decades of executing large-scale infrastructure projects. Both parties stressed that any siting activities will follow rigorous public- participation standards, continuous disclosure, and inclusive decision-making. Currently, KenGen has an installed
generation capacity of 1,786 MWe, over 90% of which is drawn from green sources namely: Hydro (826 MW), Geothermal (754MW), Wind (25.5 MW). The balance is from thermal power plants. Nuclear power is expected to help stabilise electricity tariffs, minimise power outages, and create an energy system able to support high-demand sectors such as manufacturing and digital industries. The partnership between KenGen and NuPEA came two months after the government announced plans to set up a plant in Siaya County, after shifting the proposed project from Kilifi County following fierce opposition from residents. Leaders in Siaya had welcomed the relocation. The government has
identified Lwanda Kotieno in Rarieda as the leading candidate site in Siaya. Current plans are for a $4-5bn 1,000 MWe
plant expanding to 20,000 MWe by 2040. Once the Siaya plant becomes operational, which is targeted for 2034, the government plans to roll out additional nuclear facilities in Kilifi and Kwale counties. It is also planning to introduce smaller nuclear units in every county based on small modular reactors (SMRs).
China
Thorium-powered cargo ship detailed China has unveiled details of a nuclear- powered cargo ship under development: that can carry 14,000 standard shipping containers. It will be powered by a thorium-based molten salt reactor (TMSR) with an output of 200 MWt or 50 MWe – matching the power of the S6W pressurised water reactor used to power the US Navy’s most advanced Seawolf-class nuclear attack submarines. Details were first published in the Hong Kong English-language South China Morning Post, describing a ship capable of carrying up to 14,000 TEU containers (standard containers 20 feet long and 8 feet wide). The choice of s thorium fuel cycle was made due to its greater safety compared with uranium-plutonium, as well as the presence of large reserves of thorium in China. The TMSR has been operating without
overload for 10 years. The working fluid of the second circuit of the reactor plant is supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO2), which provides a total efficiency of about 45-50%. The project provides passive energy removal systems. For worst-case scenarios, liquid salt is drained into a trap tank and then hardened. The vessel is also equipped with a 10 MW backup diesel generator. The project is being developed by the Jiangnan Shipbuilding Group, part of the Chinese State Shipping Corporation (CSSC). The project manager is senior engineer Hu Keyi. The SCMP article is based on an article authored by Hu Keyi in the Chinese Ship & Boat magazine. This presented a historical overview of the
application of nuclear technology in the navy, as well as a brief overview of various reactor technologies. The final part of the paper looks at three different concepts for the use of non-water reactors for marine vessels, as follows - a fast lead-bismuth reactor tanker; a thorium liquid salt reactor container ship; and a floating nuclear power plant with high- temperature gas-cooled reactor. The concepts are cited as a possible next
step in the introduction of nuclear technology for marine applications, with the proviso being made that water-cooled reactors are best developed for such applications at the moment. In his choices, Hu Keyi was guided by a concept proposed in 2003 by a number of US national laboratories and universities, which was theoretical in nature. ■
round up
CLEAN-UP
THE US ENVIRONMENTAL Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of Energy (DOE) Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management (OREM) have confirmed that half of the federal acreage on the 33,000-acre Oak Ridge Reservation had not been impacted by historic operations and does not require environmental clean-up.
A TRILATERAL AGREEMENT has been signed by Russia’s Federal Environmental Operator (FEO – Federalnovo Ekologicheskovo Operatora), Rosatom Environmental Integrator and Vietnam’s Foundation for the Development of Science & Technology of the Academy of Sciences & Technologies. The agreement, signed in Moscow, aims to develop long-term cooperation in the field of environmental safety, hazardous waste management and elimination of accumulated environmental damage.
ADVANCED REACTORS TEXAS-BASED NATURA Resources has received a US Department of Energy (DOE) Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear (GAIN) Voucher to partner with Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) to advance its molten salt reactor (MSR). GAIN awards facilitate public-private partnerships, allowing Natura to access the expertise and facilities of national laboratories.
SMRs
FINNISH START-UP SEATOM Technologies Oy has been selected for the NATO Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) 2026 Challenge Programme Cohort. SEATOM’s “solution”, described as “an affordable modular micro nuclear reactor system for marine and extreme environments”, was chosen under NATO DIANA’s Operations in Extreme Environments Challenge programme.
POLAND’S SYNTHOS GREEN Energy (SGE0 and South Korea’s Samsung C&T have signed a MOU to collaborate on the deployment of small modular reactors (SMRs). The partnership combines SGE’s expertise in deploying nuclear technologies with Samsung C&T’s global engineering and construction capabilities, aiming to accelerate the rollout of SMRs as a cornerstone of sustainable energy worldwide.
FINNISH START-UP Steady Energy is to co-operate with South Korea’s largest district heating provider, Korea District Heating Corp on heat-only small modular reactors (SMRs). The 50 MWt LDR-50, which has been under development at VTT since 2020, is a simplified pressurised light water reactor specifically designed to operate at around 150°C and below 10 bar (145 psi).
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