Nuclear Energy: A sustainable solution to Africa’s power gap and climate goals
Participants in the Africa Nuclear Power Dialogue emphasized the continent’s urgent need to harness nuclear energy as a reliable solution to electricity shortages, industrial growth, and the transition to clean energy.
The high-level summit, held on its second day in Kigali, focused on how modern nuclear technologies including Small Modular Reactors (SMRs),can support Africa’s development agenda while preserving the environment.
Cina Lawson, Togo’s Minister of Digital Economy and Transformation, stressed that expanding industrial capacity depends on a reliable power supply, and nuclear energy offers the potential to bridge that gap.
For Rwanda’s Minister of ICT and Innovation, Paula Ingabire, investing in modular nuclear reactors should go hand-in-hand with regional cooperation and clear policies that enable investment and cross-border collaboration.
“The first step is to consider regional collaboration,politically and strategically. We must ask what policies and regulations are required to attract investment into this sector. If we can become a hub for clean energy investment, then we’re no longer just talking about power, we’re talking about sustainable development,” she said.
Ingabire added that investors looking into SMRs will assess cross-border distances, political will, and the market potential before committing,highlighting the need for harmonized policies across African countries.
The Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, emphasized the importance of building local scientific capacity and aligning Africa’s strategies with global technological advancements.
“This summit isn’t only about long-term policies,it’s about practical implementation. That requires investing in scientific skills, creating strong institutional frameworks, and ensuring these projects are viable within our context,” Grossi explained.
On the final day of the summit, attention turned to Africa’s youth, with calls for empowering young scientists and engineers to lead the way in using nuclear technology to solve energy challenges,while also reducing the continent’s dependence on fossil fuels and curbing environmental degradation.
Nuclear energy, when deployed responsibly, is seen as a low-carbon, high-efficiency alternative that could help Africa meet both its energy demands and climate resilience goals.