Rwanda plans to invest up to $6 billion in nuclear power plants as part of its strategy to secure reliable electricity and support long-term economic growth, President Paul Kagame said on Tuesday, according to Business Insider Africa.
Kagame announced the plan at a global nuclear energy summit in Paris hosted by Emmanuel Macron, where he also called for stronger international financing to help developing countries build nuclear power infrastructure.
Speaking to government officials, regulators and industry leaders, Kagame said nuclear energy is now central to Rwanda’s long-term development strategy as the country aims to become a high-income economy by 2050.
“Rwanda aims to be a high-income country by 2050,” Kagame said. “That requires abundant electricity, and that is why we have decided to make nuclear central to our strategy.”
Many African countries are expanding electricity generation to support industrialisation and rising energy demand.
Rwanda has increased electricity access in recent years through hydropower, solar and methane gas projects, but officials say much more reliable power will be needed as industries and digital infrastructure grow.
Kagame said nuclear energy could provide the stable “baseload” electricity required for sectors such as manufacturing, mineral processing and data centres.
Under the plan, Rwanda intends to develop small modular reactors (SMRs), a newer type of nuclear technology designed to be smaller, more flexible and easier to deploy than traditional nuclear plants, making them suitable for countries with relatively small electricity grids.
“Small modular reactors are especially suited to Africa’s requirements,” Kagame said.
The programme is expected to help Rwanda expand electricity generation capacity to about 5 gigawatts by 2050, which authorities say is necessary to support the country’s long-term economic ambitions.
Rwanda has spent several years preparing the groundwork for nuclear development, including establishing the Rwanda Atomic Energy Board to supervise the sector and working with the International Atomic Energy Agency to strengthen regulatory systems, safety standards and technical expertise.
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Hundreds of Rwandans have already been trained in nuclear science and engineering, and the government plans to build a workforce of around 230 specialised professionals by 2028 to operate and regulate the sector.
Kagame said a recent Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review by the IAEA confirmed Rwanda has made progress in meeting key requirements and can move to the next phase under the agency’s milestone framework.
Despite the preparations, Kagame said financing remains a major challenge. “Nuclear energy projects require tailored financing packages, which are still unfamiliar to many development banks,” he said, urging international financial institutions to increase support.
He noted that the World Bank has recently begun reconsidering its long-standing restrictions on financing nuclear energy after calls from governments during global climate discussions, and said this shift should translate into practical funding mechanisms for developing countries.
Rwanda plans to use nuclear technology mainly for civilian purposes, including electricity generation and medical applications, and hopes to have its first nuclear power plant operating around 2030.
The country has already started working with international partners. In 2023 it signed an agreement with Dual Fluid Energy Inc. to test advanced reactor technology.
Authorities have also partnered with companies from Russia and the United States to explore SMR development.
Experts say SMRs can be built on sites of 15 to 50 hectares and operated by a workforce of about 230 people, making them suitable for emerging electricity markets.
Supporters also argue that nuclear energy could help reduce greenhouse-gas emissions. Research cited by the World Nuclear Association shows nuclear power produces far lower carbon emissions than fossil fuels.
Kagame also announced that Rwanda will host the 2026 Nuclear Energy Innovation Summit for Africa in Kigali, bringing together governments, investors and industry leaders to discuss the future of nuclear power on the continent.
“Nuclear energy is not too complex or risky for developing countries,” Kagame said. “Rwanda is ready to do what it takes to power our development with nuclear energy. We look forward to working with partners across the world to make that vision a reality.”
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Image Credit: Freepik
