Through the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, in collaboration with the African Nuclear Business Platform (AFNBP), the event will discuss the development of nuclear energy on the African continent.
A statement by the Ugandan Minister of Energy, Ruth Nankabirwa, the conference constitutes, among others, "an excellent opportunity for Uganda, in particular, and for the African continent in general, to find adequate approaches to the challenges of the nuclear industry".
"The conference takes place at a time when Uganda is preparing to amend the Atomic Energy Act 2008, to strengthen the legal regime of nuclear safety, protection, safeguards for nuclear material, nuclear civil liability and maintenance of the nuclear institutional framework," he said.
It comes at a time when seven countries in sub-Saharan Africa, including Uganda, have committed to having nuclear power as part of their energy mix between 2030 and 2037. Nankabirwa said the region, particularly Uganda, is experiencing an ever-increasing population, economic growth and growing social needs that require the sustainable development of energy resources.
He noted that Uganda's vision for 2040 and subsequent national development plans to identify electricity as a modern energy to shift the country towards industrialized and predominantly urban society will only be realized with the introduction of nuclear energy.
"This is because electricity generation from hydro potential, biomass, geothermal and peat, if fully developed, cannot meet Uganda's vision targets for 2040", adding that "Uganda is taking firm steps towards integrate nuclear power into electricity generation to ensure energy security and provide sufficient electricity for industrialization.
In addition, the government has identified nuclear power as part of Uganda's energy transition plan and continues to invest in developing the necessary infrastructure, including human capital development in specialist areas to support the early development of nuclear power," he explained. the minister.
