Uganda, Russia sign pact to produce electricity using nuclear energy

ENERGY        INFRASTRUCTURE

Government has signed an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA)  with Russia on cooperation in the field of the development and use of nuclear energy for peaceful or non- military purposes.

Government is seeking to develop nuclear energy to meet the future increasing needs for electricity which might not be met through hydropower.

The agreement was signed at the International Atomic Energy Agency, Headquarters, Vienna, Austria.  This was during the 63rd regular session of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) General Conference.

An intergovernmental agreement (IGA) is any agreement that involves or is made between two or more governments in cooperation to solve problems of mutual concern

Intergovernmental agreements are made between or among a broad range of governmental or quasi-governmental entities. Two years ago government signed a memorandum of understanding with Russia in the field of cooperation on the development of nuclear sources and use in Uganda. A memorandum of understanding (MOU) is a document that describes the broad outlines of an agreement. While not legally binding, the MOU signals that a binding contract is imminent.

Eng. Irene Muloni, the Minister of Energy and Mineral Development and Nikolai Spasskiy, the Deputy Director General of ROSATOM signed the Agreements on behalf of their of their governments.

The minister was accompanied by Sarah Nafuna, the head/ Nuclear Energy Unit /national liaison officer for International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Technical Cooperation, Oliver Koyekyenga Katwesigye a member of the  Natural Resources committee of Parliament of Uganda, Dr. Akisophel Kisolo, the Chairperson Atomic Energy Council, and other senior Government officials.

The agreement seeks to establish a strong cooperative framework with a focus on development of nuclear infrastructure in Uganda, production and application of radioisotopes for industrial, healthcare, agricultural use, support towards strengthening nuclear and radiation safety and security, as well as education and training.

Muloni expressed gratitude towards Russia for the cooperation in the area of peaceful uses of nuclear energy and pledged government's commitment to work with ROSATOM within the scope of the Agreement to harness the positive contribution of nuclear energy to socio economic development.

ROSATOM is a Russian state corporation with headquarters in Moscow that specializes in nuclear energy.

Spasskiy expressed the commitment and readiness of ROSATOM to support Uganda's plans to development the peaceful use of nuclear energy especially in the nuclear power plant development and nuclear science and technology center.

The parties agreed to create workgroups to further develop projects on the construction of nuclear power plants in Uganda and the construction of the center for nuclear science and technology in Uganda on the basis of a research reactor of Russian design. The Center of Nuclear Science and Technology will be used for nuclear training, research and development. In addition, the centre will have facilities for the production of radioisotopes for cancer management.

It will also have an irradiation facility for improving the shelf life of the agricultural produce, sterilization of flowers for export and improving agricultural productivity through research.

According to the 2019 sector performance report of the ministry of energy and mineral development the ministry is strengthening the policy and laws to set up the supporting infrastructure and build up capacity for managing nuclear energy projects.

Government early this year also held a meeting with the Chinese government during the Uganda-China bilateral cooperation in the use of atomic energy for peaceful purposes in Kampala. The meeting focused on conducting feasibility studies and formation of working groups for the proposed projects on nuclear power plant, research reactors and irradiation facility.