Atoms for Africa's Development: The Case for Nuclear Power Generation in Africa

This research paper argues that African countries should incorporate nuclear power into their energy mixes to address severe electrification gaps and align with global transitions toward cleaner energy. The author contends that nuclear energy is a viable economic and environmental option, provided that countries develop robust regulatory frameworks and leverage cooperative regional approaches to overcome challenges in financing and infrastructure.

• Sub-Saharan Africa faces a critical energy deficit; its 48 countries possess a grid-connected power capacity equivalent to that of Spain, despite having a population 18 times larger. Approximately 600 million people in Africa lack electricity access, and 900 million use hazardous fuels for cooking.
• Nuclear power is presented as a sustainable, zero-emission energy source with a small land footprint and minimal waste. The paper notes that nuclear, wind, and solar have significantly lower death rates per terawatt hour (TWh) generated compared to brown coal and biomass, with nuclear at 0.07 deaths per TWh.
• Nuclear energy offers higher reliability and longer-term employment than renewables. Nuclear plants have a capacity factor of approximately 94%, compared to 35% for wind and 25% for solar. While construction jobs are similar per kW installed, nuclear plants require more human resources for operation and maintenance over a longer lifespan.
• The development of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) is highlighted as a solution to the common criticisms that large-scale nuclear plants are too expensive and take too long to construct. SMRs are described as cheaper and faster to build, making them suitable for small, growing electricity grids.
• Financial challenges for African nuclear projects are attributed not to a lack of liquidity, but to illicit financial flows, lack of resource ownership, and high interest rates on government bonds (5% to 16% for 10-year bonds), which contrast with near-zero or negative rates in Europe and America.
• Africa currently has only one operational nuclear power plant, located in Cape Town, South Africa. To expand, countries must adhere to the Treaty of Pelindaba (1996) and work with bodies like the African Commission on Nuclear Energy (AFCONE), the Forum of Nuclear Regulatory Bodies in Africa (FNRBA), and the IAEA.

APA

South African Institute of International Affairs (2021). Atoms for Africa's Development: The Case for Nuclear Power Generation in Africa. https://saiia.org.za/research/atoms-for-africas-development-the-case-for-nuclear-power-generation-in-africa/

Chicago

South African Institute of International Affairs. Atoms for Africa's Development: The Case for Nuclear Power Generation in Africa. 2021. https://saiia.org.za/research/atoms-for-africas-development-the-case-for-nuclear-power-generation-in-africa/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=South African Institute of International Affairs |title=Atoms for Africa's Development: The Case for Nuclear Power Generation in Africa |date=8 July 2021 |url=https://saiia.org.za/research/atoms-for-africas-development-the-case-for-nuclear-power-generation-in-africa/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{southafricaninstituteofinternationalaffairs2021atoms, author = {{South African Institute of International Affairs}}, title = {{Atoms for Africa's Development: The Case for Nuclear Power Generation in Africa}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2021}, month = jul, url = {https://saiia.org.za/research/atoms-for-africas-development-the-case-for-nuclear-power-generation-in-africa/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }