130
S. Nakanwagi
Africa, which is already generating electricity from nuclear energy, the
rest of the countries are mainly still at the preparatory stages. However,
a few of them already have some form of regulation for the industry in
place.
In Uganda, for instance, efforts are underway to establish a functioning nuclear industry. The country enacted the Atomic Energy Act
66
in 2008 and also set up a Nuclear Energy Unit and an Atomic Energy
Council. The Act in particular addresses issues concerning the peaceful
application of radioactive material, social and environmental protection,
management of radioactive waste, development of nuclear energy power
generation, and general compliance with international laws and standards. The country also promulgated the law in 2012 in particular ‘to
specify the minimum requirements for the protection of individuals, society
and environment from the dangers resulting from ionising radiation’
67 and
‘to provide for the safety and security of radiation sources…’.
68
In Kenya, nuclear energy is also being considered for electricity supply
across the country, and the state already has in place a Nuclear Power
and Energy Agency, established under the Energy Act of 2019.
69 It is
responsible for promoting and implementing Kenya’s Nuclear Power
Programme, carrying out research and development for the energy
sector.
70
South Africa is the only country in the SSA region which already
generates power from nuclear energy. It began commercial nuclear power
operations in 1984, and it currently has two nuclear reactors, accounting
for about 6% of its entire energy
71 —the country set in place a robust
legal and regulatory system to cater for the nuclear industry. The major
laws are the Nuclear Energy Act of 1999
72 ; the National Radioactive
66 Atomic Energy Act, 2008, https://ulii.org/ug/legislation/act/2015/24.
67 Ibid., Regulation 2(a).
68 Atomic Nuclear Regulations, 2012, https://ulii.org/ug/legislation/statutory-instrument/2012/4.
69 The Energy Act No. 1 of 2019, https://www.nuclear.co.ke/images/downloads/EnergyAct__No.
1%20of%202019.pdf.
70 Ibid., s.54, also Ss.54–71.
71 Information available, http://www.energy.gov.za/files/esources/nuclear/nuclear_back.html.
72 Nuclear Energy Act 1999, Act 46 of 1999.
S. Nakanwagi
Africa, which is already generating electricity from nuclear energy, the
rest of the countries are mainly still at the preparatory stages. However,
a few of them already have some form of regulation for the industry in
place.
In Uganda, for instance, efforts are underway to establish a functioning nuclear industry. The country enacted the Atomic Energy Act
66
in 2008 and also set up a Nuclear Energy Unit and an Atomic Energy
Council. The Act in particular addresses issues concerning the peaceful
application of radioactive material, social and environmental protection,
management of radioactive waste, development of nuclear energy power
generation, and general compliance with international laws and standards. The country also promulgated the law in 2012 in particular ‘to
specify the minimum requirements for the protection of individuals, society
and environment from the dangers resulting from ionising radiation’
67 and
‘to provide for the safety and security of radiation sources…’.
68
In Kenya, nuclear energy is also being considered for electricity supply
across the country, and the state already has in place a Nuclear Power
and Energy Agency, established under the Energy Act of 2019.
69 It is
responsible for promoting and implementing Kenya’s Nuclear Power
Programme, carrying out research and development for the energy
sector.
70
South Africa is the only country in the SSA region which already
generates power from nuclear energy. It began commercial nuclear power
operations in 1984, and it currently has two nuclear reactors, accounting
for about 6% of its entire energy
71 —the country set in place a robust
legal and regulatory system to cater for the nuclear industry. The major
laws are the Nuclear Energy Act of 1999
72 ; the National Radioactive
66 Atomic Energy Act, 2008, https://ulii.org/ug/legislation/act/2015/24.
67 Ibid., Regulation 2(a).
68 Atomic Nuclear Regulations, 2012, https://ulii.org/ug/legislation/statutory-instrument/2012/4.
69 The Energy Act No. 1 of 2019, https://www.nuclear.co.ke/images/downloads/EnergyAct__No.
1%20of%202019.pdf.
70 Ibid., s.54, also Ss.54–71.
71 Information available, http://www.energy.gov.za/files/esources/nuclear/nuclear_back.html.
72 Nuclear Energy Act 1999, Act 46 of 1999.