Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) has been contracted by Uganda’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development to evaluate a proposed site for the country’s first nuclear power plant, in the Buyende District, World Nuclear News (wnn) reported on May 30.

The 26-month contract, signed on May 27 in Entebbe, tasks KHNP, a state-owned South Korean energy company, with overseeing the feasibility study until July 2027.

The scope of work includes assessments of seismic activity, flooding, geology, cooling water sources, and external hazards such as aircraft crashes, in compliance with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) standards. KHNP is the lead contractor, joined by Dohwa Engineering and KEPCO Engineering & Construction, both of which are Korean firms. KHNP also plans to propose a site layout for four APR1400 reactors.

“This contract signing is a meaningful first step toward exporting Korean-type nuclear power plants to the African market, which has great growth potential,” KHNP President Hwang Joo-ho said as quoted by wnn. “Based on our cooperation with Uganda, we will expand KHNP’s presence in Africa.”

Uganda plans to add nuclear power to its energy mix amid growing electricity demand and climate-related concerns over the reliability of hydropower. Uganda’s Vision 2040 identifies nuclear power as a key component of the strategy, targeting 8,400 MWe of capacity from six pressurised water reactors by 2040. The International Atomic Energy Agency has confirmed ongoing support to Uganda under its Milestones Approach framework for new nuclear programmes.

Uganda enacted its Atomic Energy Bill in 2008 to provide a legal and regulatory framework for nuclear development. The government signed a memorandum of understanding with KHNP in March 2023 and has also entered nuclear cooperation agreements with Russia and China, Business Korea reported on May 28.

In August 2023, President Yoweri Museveni announced that Russia and South Korea had been selected to build two nuclear power plants with a combined capacity of 15 GWe. The preferred site for the first project is in Kasaato Village, Kidera Subcounty, Buyende District, with Nakasongola and Kiruhura Districts listed as alternatives.