Africa eyes small modular reactors to plug power gaps
As global nuclear capacity surges, African nations are turning to SMRs not just for access—but for autonomy, industrialization, and energy resilience
Bonface Orucho, bird story agency
African countries are exploring small modular reactors (SMRs) to deliver clean, reliable energy to where it’s needed most.
While most clean energy investments in Africa have gone toward solar and wind, a growing number of countries are now turning to nuclear—specifically small modular and microreactors—as a complementary, locally adaptable solution.
According to Robert Lisinge, a technology, innovation and connectivity expert, Africa’s SMR ambitions can be realized through “synchronised planning at regional and national levels.”
“There is a need to conceptualise and potentially develop regional nuclear projects that involve perhaps multiple countries,” he said.
That vision was clearly on display in Kigali, Rwanda, where policymakers, engineers, and international partners gathered between June 30 and July 1 for the Nuclear Energy Innovation Summit for Africa.
Participants agreed the continent is no longer merely exploring nuclear possibilities—it is laying the groundwork for energy solutions designed around Africa’s infrastructure realities.
“Across the continent today, we have 15 percent of generation, 40 GW of power, that cannot be delivered simply because of infrastructure issues, curtailment, and grids not being available, sometimes for 800 to 1,000 hours per year,” said Yohannes Hailu, Economic Affairs Officer at the UN Economic Commission for Africa.
Small Modular Reactors, which typically produce under 300MW, offer a potential workaround.
Built in factories and shipped to site, they can be installed close to mining zones, industrial parks, or off-grid communities—cutting the need for extensive transmission infrastructure.
With over 600 million Africans still without electricity and demand rising from energy-intensive sectors like mining and manufacturing, interest in SMRs is intensifying.
And this isn’t just talk.
From Ghana to Kenya to South Africa, governments are moving beyond feasibility studies. Concrete steps—policy reforms, skills development programs, and international partnerships—are already shaping the nuclear energy landscape.
Ghana, for instance, has signed a framework agreement with U.S.-based Regnum Technology Group and NuScale Power to deploy up to 12 NuScale VOYGR-12 SMR modules. Each module will initially produce 50MW, with plans to scale up to 77MW, reaching nearly 924MW when fully deployed.
Ghana is also positioning itself as a regional hub for nuclear training and localization.
Through U.S. government support, the country launched the region’s first NuScale Energy Exploration Centre (E2 Centre) in Accra. The facility simulates full-scale nuclear operations and includes a welding certification lab. It’s also linked to institutions such as Texas A\&M University and will train engineers and technicians while fostering local supply chains.
Officials aim to develop up to 1,000MW of nuclear capacity by 2034. Ghana’s Nuclear Power Institute is also in talks for a “123 Agreement” with the U.S. to support long-term nuclear cooperation and trade.
South Africa, home to Africa’s only commercial nuclear power station (Koeberg), is shifting focus to locally designed, high-temperature SMRs such as the HTMR-100.
Backed by domestic firms and Chinese partners, the HTMR-100 is moving toward a financing package of nearly US\$500 million. Koya Capital and Stratek Global are leading efforts to fund and build the modular reactor.
In East Africa, Rwanda is carving a niche as a launchpad for experimental nuclear technologies. Agreements have been signed with U.S.-based NANO Nuclear Energy and Canada-Germany firm Dual Fluid to pilot microreactors in the 2 to 10MW range.
These small units are designed to power off-grid communities or specialized industries—potential blueprints for broader SMR rollout.
“SMRs could supply clean, reliable energy to creditworthy mining operations, enabling value addition to products for global markets,” said Brian Dlamini, Planning Engineer at the Southern Africa Power Pool.
Even countries without current deployment plans are laying the groundwork.
Nigeria is modernizing its regulatory frameworks and is part of the U.S.-led FIRST program, which supports countries preparing for advanced nuclear technologies.
Kenya, aiming to commission its first nuclear plant by 2034, hosted Africa’s first IAEA-led SMR School in May 2025 and has launched feasibility studies for SMR deployment.
The African nuclear landscape is also being reshaped geopolitically.
Egypt’s ambitions received a boost in July when its El-Dabaa nuclear plant achieved a key milestone: the installation of a 480-tonne core catcher, a passive safety system critical for modern reactors.
The US\$30 billion, Russia-backed project will deliver four 1,200MW reactors, with the first expected to come online by 2028. Egypt is also building nuclear partnerships with China and South Korea to diversify its technical base.
At a continental level, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has stepped up support. During a historic visit to Monrovia, Liberia in July, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi reinforced Africa’s role in the nuclear future.
“Nuclear energy, as a clean energy source, should not be reserved for a few countries,” he said. “Africa is showing growing interest. South Africa currently operates nuclear power plants, but now Egypt is building its own. Ghana, Senegal, Kenya, Rwanda, and Ethiopia are also exploring nuclear options.”
Grossi added that recent advances in SMRs are making nuclear energy more accessible and efficient.
“These developments could make nuclear power a viable option for countries like Liberia,” he said. “So, why not? Absolutely, it’s a possibility for Liberians too.”
Meanwhile, the United States is ramping up engagement. At the U.S.-Africa Nuclear Energy Summit in Nairobi in 2024, Ghana and Kenya signed cooperation agreements on reactor development, regulatory capacity, and workforce training.
Kenya also signed an MoU with Russia in 2025 to begin constructing its first nuclear power plant by 2027 with a projected capacity of 1,000MW.
China, too, is expanding its nuclear footprint in Africa. At the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), China and Nigeria agreed to scale up nuclear cooperation. Domestically, China approved 11 new nuclear projects in 2024 alone and is on track to become the world’s top nuclear generator by 2030, according to BloombergNEF.
The Nuclear Business Platform projects that Africa could install up to 15,000MW of nuclear capacity by 2035, led by Ghana, Uganda, Kenya, and Rwanda.
Although no African country currently manufactures SMRs, the drive toward localization has begun.
Still, financing remains a major hurdle. SMRs cost between US\$2 million to US\$3 million per megawatt, meaning a single 100MW unit could run over US\$200 million.
The African Development Bank and West African Development Bank are now exploring financing instruments tailored to SMR deployment. Regional power pools and blended public-private models are also under discussion.
With 40 gigawatts of energy capacity stuck in limbo due to poor infrastructure, SMRs offer a pathway to leapfrog bottlenecks and deliver power where it’s most needed.
Industrial parks, mining zones, and remote towns are emerging as early targets. SMRs could also power desalination plants, hydrogen facilities, and decentralized mini-grids.
The consensus in Kigali was clear: Small and micro modular reactors could be transformative. But capitalizing on the opportunity will require coordinated investment in policy, financing, regulation, and infrastructure.
A 2025 report by the International Energy Agency (IEA) projects that nuclear energy will reach a record high this year, with 63 reactors representing over 70 gigawatts of new capacity currently under construction.
bird story agency
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