Uganda and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have begun the country's uranium program's second analysis in two years. In the following seven years, the program is anticipated to transition into an exploration phase and nuclear energy production.
Uganda plans to use 24,000MW of nuclear energy by 2040, which would make up about half of its 52,481MW total energy mix with 80% grid connectivity, despite financial obstacles to exploration and plant building. This goal was agreed by Cabinet last year.
In addition to evaluating Uganda's capability and ability of its uranium sites and institutions, nuclear scientists from the Vienna-based IAEA are in Kampala to carry out the study and closely examine the country's legal framework, safety standards, environmental preservation, and infrastructure growth.
At the end of the talks in ten days, the IAEA, according to Adrienne Hanly, Technical Lead-Uranium Reserves and Production, would offer "an objective assessment of Uganda's capacity that also includes status of information, structure for production, mining, and processing of uranium."
The capability of Uganda's reserves in every location that the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development has designated for nuclear energy and uranium production has not yet been measured.
According to Irene Batebe, the ministry's permanent secretary, the country requires massive quantities of uranium annually to generate 24,000MW. The government is strengthening the legal foundation for the discovery, extraction, and processing of nuclear fuel resources by modifying the Atomic Energy Act, 2008.
Even when completely developed, the nation's hydro, biomass, geothermal, and peat electricity generation capacity, according to her, would not be able to satisfy the targets set forth in Uganda Vision 2040.
The Energy Policy for Uganda, 2023 was approved by the Cabinet in April of 2023. It calls for the long-term construction of 52,481 MW of generating capacity, of which 24,000 MW will come from nuclear power, to fulfil future demand.
The Ministry of Energy has approved a five-year project to quantify Uganda's uranium, according to Emmanuel Wamala, assistant commissioner Nuclear Fuel and Radioactive Waste. However, it is unclear whether this endeavour will be completed in time to feed the nation's first plant.
Uganda's nuclear energy policy is based on the Atomic Energy Act of 2008 (for which a nuclear safety amendment is being produced for Cabinet consideration) and the Minerals and Mining Act of 2022 (which permits uranium mining).
The government and Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power Company Ltd. inked a memorandum of understanding last year to begin construction on the nation's first nuclear facility, a 2,000 MW plant in Buyende, eastern Uganda. The Energy Ministry estimates that the project will cost $9 billion.