The IAEA is working with countries across the continent on harnessing nuclear energy for sustainable development.
Africa needs more energy. Nearly 600 million people in Africa still do not have access to electricity. Rapid population growth, urbanization and economic development are expected to drive increases in energy demand, with grid infrastructure struggling to integrate intermittent renewables such as solar and wind.
Next week, the second edition of the Nuclear Energy Innovation Summit on Africa will convene governments, regulators, financiers, industry, and technology partners in Kigali, Rwanda to discuss how nuclear energy can complement renewables as a scalable, practical option for African contexts. IAEA Director General, Rafael Mariano Grossi will be speaking at the conference.
The IAEA will also host a high-level session to explore how Africa can leverage advanced nuclear technologies, particularly Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), to achieve industrialization and energy access, by presenting global insights, regional perspectives and industry expertise.
The IAEA works with countries across the continent on harnessing nuclear energy for sustainable development. The Agency’s support to countries considering or introducing nuclear power includes capacity building, review missions and workshops guided by the IAEA Milestones Approach – a structured, phased methodology for developing infrastructure required for a safe, secure and sustainable nuclear power programme.
The IAEA’s Outlook for Nuclear Energy in Africa, developed for South Africa’s 2025 G20 Presidency, explores the role of nuclear energy in shaping the continent’s future. Here are some of the key findings from the report.
The Koeberg Nuclear Power Plant in South Africa, (Photo: Adobe Stock)
While South Africa is the only African country with an operational nuclear plant, many others are considering or embarking on their first nuclear power programme.
Egypt is constructing a nuclear power plant with four units, with the first expected to be operational in 2028. Oher countries in Africa are considering developing nuclear power or already building the infrastructure. These include Algeria, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sudan, Tunisia, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania and Zambia.
One catalyst for this increased interest is the advent of small modular reactors (SMRs), smaller nuclear reactors that can be shop fabricated and transported as modules to be assembled on site.
SMRs are a compelling solution for many African countries as they are more suitable for use in small electricity grids and have a lower upfront capital cost per unit and shorter construction times than large reactors. SMRs could serve remote areas with no grid infrastructure, for example in mining operations, and have potential to provide process heat or cooling, in addition to power generation.
Africa is also an important contributor to global uranium production, a critical raw material in the generation of nuclear energy. Around 14% of global uranium production is from countries in Africa, with Namibia, Niger and South Africa among the top producers. These resources, together with new investments in fuel cycle management, could lay the foundations for new nuclear technologies on the continent.
The Rossing uranium mine in Namibia. (Photo: Adobe Stock)
Regional cooperation can accelerate Africa’s adoption of nuclear power by enabling countries to share costs, infrastructure and expertise while strengthening negotiating power with international partners.
While the decision to deploy nuclear power and start a nuclear power programme is the sovereign right of every country, joint projects, aligned regulations and regional power pools can help countries improve financing terms, integrate power systems and reduce electricity costs at scale.
Governments of countries hosting nuclear power plant projects can retain control of main tasks and regulatory responsibilities, while leveraging collaboration to enhance human resource development, safety and security, industrial participation, emergency planning and public acceptance.
Africa’s power systems are organised into five regional power pools, with relatively advanced and interconnected grids in the southern and northern parts of the continent, while continental integration is advancing through the Africa Single Electricity Market (AfSEM).
Launched in 2015, AfSEM aims to create the world’s largest single electricity market, improving energy security, sustainability and competitiveness for more than 1.3 billion people. This growing interconnectivity will be able to integrate large nuclear power reactors, which require strong, stable grids with robust transmission.
Making nuclear power projects bankable is a challenge in Africa. Clean energy investments on the continent account for approximately 2% of the global total and are constrained by rising debt burdens and low sovereign credit ratings. However, recent developments point to new opportunities. A 2025 partnership between the IAEA and the World Bank marks renewed multilateral engagement with nuclear power, including support for reactor life extension, grid upgrades and SMRs. The agreement could also serve as a catalyst for broader engagement by other multilateral banks.
In 2021, the Just Energy Transition Partnership was set up between South Africa and the International Partners Group, committing US $8.5 billion, to support the clean energy transition in South Africa. Senegal and Nigeria have also expressed their interest in such financing mechanisms, which can enable investments in the development of nuclear energy.
A successful nuclear power programme requires a strong national commitment spanning at least 100 years. Establishing the necessary infrastructure and delivering the first nuclear power plant requires strong national leadership to ensure effective coordination and broad political and public support, disruptions or policy reversals can carry significant delays and costs, which can be detrimental for programmes.
The IAEA’s Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review (INIR) provides a comprehensive assessment of the 19 nuclear power infrastructure issues, ranging from national position to legal and regulatory frameworks, to stakeholder engagement, environmental protection and radioactive waste management.
Source: IAEA