International Involvement in the African Nuclear Market

The document examines the viability of nuclear energy in Africa, noting that the continent provides 14% of global uranium supply. It identifies Russia and China as leading international vendors due to their state-owned models and willingness to provide financing. The paper highlights significant barriers to deployment, including high costs, corruption, unstable electrical grids, and a lack of local expertise. It also discusses the potential of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) to mitigate some of these infrastructure and financial challenges.

• Africa is a significant global supplier of uranium, with three mines producing 14% of the world's supply, making nuclear power a viable energy option for the continent.
• African countries lack local nuclear vendors and must rely on international cooperation for the design, construction, and operation of nuclear programmes.
• Russia and China are currently the most active vendors in the African market, often providing a combination of technology, technical expertise, and financing.
• Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) are attractive for developing countries because they require lower upfront investment and do not necessitate a large nationwide power grid.
• Financing is identified as the primary deciding factor for nuclear projects, as few African nations can afford the multi-billion-dollar costs of conventional plants.
• The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the African Commission on Nuclear Energy (AFCONE) are essential for establishing the legal and regulatory frameworks required for safe nuclear deployment.
• Geopolitical tensions between the US, Russia, and China may influence vendor selection, potentially pushing some African countries toward vendors from France or South Korea.
• South Africa currently operates the only nuclear power plant on the continent and is planning to expand its capacity by 2,500 MW.

APA

van der Merwe, L. (2021). International Involvement in the African Nuclear Market. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Occasional-Paper-329-van-der-merwe.pdf

Chicago

van der Merwe, Lezani. International Involvement in the African Nuclear Market. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2021. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Occasional-Paper-329-van-der-merwe.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=van der Merwe |first1=Lezani |title=International Involvement in the African Nuclear Market |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=September 2021 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Occasional-Paper-329-van-der-merwe.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{vandermerwe2021international, author = {van der Merwe, Lezani}, title = {{International Involvement in the African Nuclear Market}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2021}, month = sep, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Occasional-Paper-329-van-der-merwe.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }