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

The paper advocates for the adoption of nuclear power in Africa to combat energy poverty and meet climate goals, noting that nuclear energy is a zero-emission source with a high capacity factor. It addresses safety concerns by comparing death rates and highlighting new reactor designs, while suggesting that Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) could mitigate high upfront costs and long construction times. The author emphasizes the need for robust national regulatory frameworks and international cooperation through bodies like the IAEA and FNRBA to ensure safety and security.

• Africa faces severe energy poverty, with approximately 600 million people lacking electricity access and 900 million relying on hazardous fuels for cooking. Sub-Saharan Africa's 48 countries collectively possess a grid-connected power capacity equivalent to that of Spain, despite having a population 18 times larger.
• Nuclear power is presented as a viable clean energy option for Africa because it is a zero-emission source with a minimal land footprint. The document argues that nuclear energy is safer than fossil fuels, citing death rates of 0.07 per terawatt hour (TWh) for nuclear, compared to 32.72 for brown coal and 4.63 for biomass.
• Nuclear energy offers higher reliability and longer-term employment than renewables due to its superior capacity factor. Nuclear plants have a capacity factor of approximately 94%, significantly higher than wind (35%) and solar (25%), and require more human resources for operation and maintenance over their longer lifespans.
• While large-scale nuclear projects often suffer from budget overruns and long construction timelines, Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) are identified as a more suitable alternative for small or growing electricity grids due to lower costs and shorter build times.
• The economic challenge for African nuclear adoption is not a lack of liquidity but rather high debt interest rates (5% to 16% on 10-year government bonds) and illicit financial flows. The paper suggests moving from a 'poverty management' approach to a 'developmental approach' focused on domestic resource mobilisation.
• Successful nuclear implementation requires strict adherence to international protocols and the establishment of sovereign national regulatory bodies. Currently, 34 African members belong to the Forum of Nuclear Regulatory Bodies in Africa (FNRBA), and 11 countries are engaging with the IAEA.
• Deep geological disposal is considered the most effective solution for high-level nuclear waste. The document suggests such sites are feasible in Africa because the continent already possesses extensive deep mining infrastructure.

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} }