The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) strongly supported the progress of Rwanda’s nuclear program. In early March 2026, a 10-member IAEA team conducted an integrated nuclear infrastructure review mission in Kigali to assess Rwanda’s preparedness across 19 infrastructure areas critical to safe, secure and sustainable nuclear development. The mission focused on Rwanda’s institutional framework, regulatory progress, and preparatory work for the deployment of small modular reactors (SMRs) by the early 2030s.
As oil and gas volatility reshapes the energy economy, nuclear power is emerging as a long-term hedge for African markets looking to stabilize power supplies, reduce exposure to imported fuels and support industrial growth. Rwanda has made nuclear power a cornerstone of its energy strategy in an effort to stabilize baseload capacity and ensure more predictable electricity costs. With nuclear power expected to supply 60-70% of the country’s electricity mix in the coming decades, Kigali is gradually becoming the frontrunner of Africa’s nuclear expansion.
Rwanda’s nuclear ambitions: building the next energy frontier
Rwanda’s current energy capacity is between 650 and 700 MW. Despite progress such as electrification rates exceeding 84%, per capita consumption remains low, with current forecasts for demand to increase towards a projected mid-century forecast of 2.5-4.5 GW. This increase in demand, combined with the intermittency of renewable energy and climate-related fluctuations in hydropower, which generates 43.9% of the country’s electricity, is spurring Kigali’s switch to nuclear power.
Rwanda’s deployment strategy focuses on SMRs in the scale of 110-150 MW per unit, a choice that fits the country’s projected electricity needs. SMRs offer incremental scalability, lower initial capital requirements than traditional 1 GW reactors, and smoother integration with existing grid infrastructure. The Rwanda Atomic Energy Board (RAEB) is currently conducting power plant characterization, grid integration assessment, and vendor prequalification of advanced SMR designs suitable for emerging markets from generation 3 onwards.
Under the IAEA’s milestone approach, Rwanda advanced the first phase of its nuclear energy program and strengthened its legal, regulatory and institutional infrastructure to prepare for nuclear deployment. In 2025, the country drafted a comprehensive nuclear energy law that includes licensing procedures, safety standards, waste management, and a liability framework. In parallel with the legal reforms, RAEB partnered with universities and technical institutes to create specialized programs in nuclear engineering, reactor operation, and regulatory oversight.
Toward a nuclear base in Africa
Rwanda’s nuclear ambitions are part of a broader transition to nuclear power across Africa. At a time of tensions in the Middle East, with Brent crude above $100 per barrel and gas prices under new pressure, nuclear power is seen as a way for African markets to reduce their vulnerability to oil-related generation costs and restore long-term price stability.
This axis is reflected in several projects underway across the continent. Egypt is proceeding with the construction of the 4.8GW El Daba nuclear power plant, a four-reactor VVER-1200 project, with the first unit scheduled to become operational around 2028. Meanwhile, South Africa already operates the 1.9GW Koeberg nuclear power plant near Cape Town and is considering at least 5.2GW of additional nuclear capacity in a long-term integrated resource plan that includes renewed interest in SMR and pebble bed technology. Kenya is preparing to build a 1GW power plant by 2034, and countries such as Ghana and Morocco are also evaluating SMRs and larger reactors to anchor baseload power in fast-growing economies.
With the IAEA predicting that Africa’s nuclear capacity will expand five to tenfold by 2050 under the right policy and financing conditions, countries that act early are in a position to strengthen energy security, advance climate change goals, and unlock new investment opportunities across power infrastructure, manufacturing, and high-demand industrial sectors.
