Kenya and South Korea have entered into a new partnership to advance cooperation in nuclear energy research and development. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed in Vienna, Austria, during the 69th General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
The agreement was formalized by Justus Wabuyabo, Chief Executive Officer of the Kenya Nuclear Power and Energy Agency (NuPEA), and Han Gyu Joo, President of the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI). It was witnessed by Prof. Abdulrazak Shaukat, Principal Secretary in the State Department for Science, Research, and Innovation.
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Sustainable nuclear energy sector
NuPEA hailed the deal as a significant milestone in Kenya’s journey toward establishing a safe and sustainable nuclear energy sector. Central to this collaboration is the Kenya Nuclear Research Reactor (KNRR) project, which is expected to play a key role in building local expertise in nuclear science while supporting Kenya’s long-term development priorities under Vision 2030 and the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
The MoU builds on earlier joint efforts between NuPEA and KAERI, including a comprehensive feasibility study for the KNRR. Preparatory work such as stakeholder engagement, policy development, economic analysis, and site investigations has already been undertaken. Both institutions emphasized that the cooperation will strictly focus on the peaceful use of nuclear science and technology, guided by principles of transparency, accountability, and mutual benefit.