African Continental Nuclear Institutions: A Review

The report examines the governance of nuclear energy in Africa, focusing on the Treaty of Pelindaba and its implementation body, AFCONE, as well as the FNRBA and AFRA. It notes that while South Africa is the only country currently operating a nuclear power reactor, 16 other nations are exploring nuclear options for energy security and climate mitigation. The document highlights the importance of the IAEA's 'Milestones Approach' for infrastructure development and identifies critical challenges facing continental institutions, including limited funding, human resource shortages, and inconsistent member state cooperation. It recommends that all 55 African Union members ratify the Pelindaba Treaty and that AFCONE be further empowered with a predictable budget and increased staffing.

• South Africa is currently the only African nation with an active nuclear programme and operating reactor, though 16 other countries—including Algeria, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, and Nigeria—are considering or establishing nuclear programmes to improve energy security and mitigate climate change.
• The Treaty of Pelindaba establishes Africa and its surrounding islands as a Nuclear Weapons-Free Zone (NWFZ), prohibiting the hosting, testing, or dumping of nuclear weapons and waste. As of October 2021, 52 African states have signed the treaty and 42 have ratified it.
• The African Commission on Nuclear Energy (AFCONE) serves as the oversight and implementation body for the Pelindaba Treaty, focusing on nuclear safety, security, and verification, and has integrated itself into the African Peace and Security Architecture.
• The Africa Regional Cooperative Agreement for Research, Development and Training related to Nuclear Science and Technology (AFRA) promotes peaceful nuclear applications in health, agriculture, and water resources, having upgraded 40 radiotherapy centres in 18 countries and trained over 250 medical professionals.
• The Forum of Nuclear Regulatory Bodies in Africa (FNRBA), which has 34 members, focuses on harmonising radiation protection and nuclear safety infrastructure, providing a platform for member states to exchange knowledge and peer-learn.
• The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) supports African states through the 'Milestones Approach' for infrastructure development; Ghana is cited as a best-practice example for its close cooperation with the IAEA.
• African nuclear institutions face systemic challenges, including limited financial resources, a lack of skilled human personnel, and inadequate implementation of domestic legislative frameworks by member states.

APA

van Wyk, J.-A., Turianskyi, Y., & Bosman, I. (2021). African Continental Nuclear Institutions: A Review. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Policy-Insights-119-van-wyk-turianskyi-bosman.pdf

Chicago

van Wyk, Jo-Ansie, Yarik Turianskyi, and Isabel Bosman. African Continental Nuclear Institutions: A Review. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2021. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Policy-Insights-119-van-wyk-turianskyi-bosman.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=van Wyk |first1=Jo-Ansie |last2=Turianskyi |first2=Yarik |last3=Bosman |first3=Isabel |title=African Continental Nuclear Institutions: A Review |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=October 2021 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Policy-Insights-119-van-wyk-turianskyi-bosman.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{vanwyk2021african, author = {van Wyk, Jo-Ansie and Turianskyi, Yarik and Bosman, Isabel}, title = {{African Continental Nuclear Institutions: A Review}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2021}, month = oct, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Policy-Insights-119-van-wyk-turianskyi-bosman.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }