Rwanda navigates use of nuclear energy for Africa's future development #rwanda #RwOT

In some advanced nations, nuclear power accounts for up to 20% of electricity production, while the rest comes from hydropower plants and other renewable energy sources.

On December 16, 2024, ministers from various countries responsible for energy met in Rwanda to discuss what African countries need to achieve self-sufficiency in nuclear-generated electricity.

Dr. Jimmy Gasore, Rwanda's Minister of Infrastructure, stated that Africa aims to accelerate its development using nuclear energy, which requires investments from partners and financial institutions.

'Many countries used nuclear power to advance their development. As Africans, we are now discussing with experts, including those from South Africa who already use this energy, to ask: What are the requirements? What are the risks, and how can we mitigate them? Most importantly, how can we harness nuclear energy to meet our needs?' he wondered.

The discussions centered on the adoption of nuclear energy over the next 30 years to drive development.

Gasore confirmed that strategies are being developed to ensure Africa has sufficient energy for development within the next 30 years.

He underscored that achieving this goal requires boldness. 'Many developed countries relied on nuclear energy. Why shouldn't we adopt it to propel our progress?' he questioned

Generating nuclear energy requires significant investments, consideration under discussion 'We are exploring how development partners, financial institutions, and other stakeholders can support Africa in this journey toward nuclear energy,' he said.

Another key requirement is advanced technical knowledge for Africans and Rwandans, which Gasore believes is attainable, given that some African countries like Egypt and South Africa are already using nuclear energy.

In recent years, Rwanda signed an agreement with Russia regarding the development of nuclear energy and the Minister confirmed that discussions are ongoing, as this is a long-term project.

Currently, Rwanda reports having sufficient energy to meet its domestic needs, but additional energy is continuously required to support economic growth, which increases daily demand.