Education
The Glossary of the Atom
A comprehensive A–Z reference for anyone following Kenya's nuclear journey.
- ALARA
- As Low As Reasonably Achievable — the guiding principle of radiation protection, minimising exposure through time, distance and shielding.
- Base-load Power
- The minimum amount of electric power delivered to a grid on a 24/7 basis. Nuclear and geothermal are Kenya's primary base-load sources.
- Containment Building
- The massive, steel-reinforced concrete structure housing the reactor, designed to prevent any release of radiation in an emergency.
- Decommissioning
- Safely closing and dismantling a nuclear plant at the end of its life, returning the site to its original state.
- Enrichment
- Increasing the concentration of the fissile isotope Uranium-235 in nuclear fuel to make it efficient for power generation.
- Fission
- The splitting of a heavy nucleus such as uranium into lighter nuclei, releasing a massive amount of energy as heat.
- Gamma Rays
- High-energy electromagnetic radiation used in nuclear medicine and food irradiation.
- Half-life
- The time required for half of the radioactive atoms in a substance to decay.
- IAEA
- The International Atomic Energy Agency — the UN-affiliated body governing global nuclear safety, security and the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
- Joule
- The SI unit of energy. A nuclear reactor produces billions of joules every second.
- Kilowatt-hour
- One kilowatt of power sustained for one hour — the standard unit for electricity billing in Kenya.
- LCOE
- Levelized Cost of Electricity — the average cost per unit of electricity over a plant's entire life, including construction, operation and decommissioning.
- Moderator
- A material such as water or graphite used to slow down neutrons so they can cause more fission.
- NPT
- The Non-Proliferation Treaty — preventing the spread of nuclear weapons while encouraging peaceful use of the atom.
- Owner-Operator
- The entity that owns and operates the nuclear plant. In Kenya this role is designated to KenGen.
- Pelindaba Treaty
- The African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty, ensuring Africa remains a continent of peace while embracing nuclear technology.
- Quality Assurance
- The rigorous system of checks and audits ensuring every component of a nuclear plant meets the highest safety standards.
- Radioisotope
- An unstable form of a chemical element that releases radiation as it decays; used in medicine for cancer treatment and diagnosis.
- SMR
- Small Modular Reactor — a new generation of reactors of 300 MW or less, designed for modular construction and flexible deployment.
- Thermal Plume
- The area of warm water discharge from a plant's cooling system. NUeB models these plumes to protect Lake Victoria's ecosystem.
- Uranium
- The primary fuel for nuclear reactors. A single pellet contains the same energy as a ton of coal.
- Vitrification
- Turning high-level nuclear waste into a stable, glass-like substance for long-term geological storage.
- WANO
- The World Association of Nuclear Operators, promoting the highest standards of safety and reliability in plant operations.
- X-rays
- High-energy radiation used in medical imaging and industrial non-destructive testing.
- Yellowcake
- A concentrated form of uranium ore — the first step in the nuclear fuel cycle.
- Zircaloy
- A zirconium alloy used to encase nuclear fuel rods because of its very low neutron absorption rate.