Until this Thursday, May 21, Rwanda is hosting the second edition of the African Summit on Nuclear Energy Innovation (Neisa).
Civil nuclear energy, contested for its radioactive waste and accident risks, is experiencing renewed interest in the face of growing energy demand.
For the African continent, only South Africa currently operates an active nuclear power plant. But several African countries openly express their ambitions in nuclear energy.
The chair of the Rwanda Atomic Energy Board, Lassina Zerbo, indicated that new technologies under development, particularly small modular reactors, bring new opportunities for African countries.
“The future of nuclear in Africa in the 21st century will not resemble the 20th-century nuclear industry. Small modular reactors (SMRs) and modular microreactors are game-changers. This technology offers greater flexibility, strengthens safety, shortens construction times, and adapts better to our electrical infrastructure.”
Rwanda, Ghana, South Africa, and many other countries are showing their interest in these new technologies. Nuclear programs that face the funding challenge remain one of the main themes of the summit. Following an agreement last year with the World Bank, some restrictions have been lifted.
For its part, the director of the IAEA, the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Mariano Grossi, stated: “Now, it is possible that the doors of international financial institutions will also open to nuclear. And I can tell you that we are at a very advanced stage of our discussions with the African Development Bank so that we can also bring financing opportunities to Africa.”
