Kenya aims to produce at least 4000 megawatts of nuclear power by 2030, as well as increasing its use of geothermal, coal and wind farms, its Nuclear Energy Project Committee, or NEPC, said Friday.

"NEPC is working to ensure that 25% of the country's electricity is generated through nuclear energy by 2030, translating into 4000MW of the projected demand of 6000MW," the committee said.

The first phase of the project is estimated to cost about $3.5 billion to implement using South Korean technologies and companies, generating about 1000MW by 2017. The total amount for the whole project is estimated at about $16 billion, the Kenyan energy ministry said late last year.

Kenya has been experiencing power deficit over recent months, largely due to over-reliance on sometimes unreliable hydro-power, which has lead to increased use of the costly thermal production.

Currently, hydro-power still constitutes around 60% of the total electricity generated, the majority of which is acquired from five generating plants along the Tana River .

Kenya has an estimated unexploited geothermal potential of over 7000MW, according to the country's Energy Ministry. Geothermal energy in the country is generated using natural steam tapped from volcanic active zones in the Rift Valley.

Lake Turkana Wind Farm is project to produce 20% of power requirement in Kenya by 2016, and commercially exploitable coal deposits have been discovered in eastern Kenya .

Recently, the World Bank offered to provide funds to Kenya amounting to about $1.5 billion, to bridge investment deficits in the water, energy and transport sectors in its current 2010-2013 investment program, Rachel Kyte, the bank vice president for sustainable development, said.

After talks with Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki at the end of a three-day visit in early February, Kyte said more efficient transport systems, green energy investments, and actions on adaptation to climate change will increase Kenya's competitiveness in the East African region and provide safer livelihoods for millions of Kenyans, the bank said in an emailed statement.

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