PM Ngirente urges Africa to embrace nuclear energy to power development, end electricity gap

By The Inspirer.

Prime Minister Dr. Edouard Ngirente has urged African leaders to abandon outdated fears about nuclear energy and instead embrace its potential to power Africa’s growth.

Speaking at the inaugural Nuclear Energy Innovation Summit for Africa (NEISA) in Kigali, Ngirente told delegates that nuclear must be seen as an opportunity, not a threat.

“Too often, when people hear the word ‘nuclear,’ they think only of danger. But this summit is about nuclear for peace, innovation, and economic progress,” Ngirente said.

He stressed that while Africa is rich in solar, wind, and hydropower resources — and uranium deposits like those long exported from Niger — the continent still faces an enormous electricity gap, with over 600 million people lacking reliable power.

Ngirente argued that nuclear energy, recognized globally as clean and low-carbon, must become part of Africa’s energy mix to strengthen energy security and climate resilience. He noted that international frameworks such as the Paris Agreement and COP summits acknowledge nuclear’s role in achieving net-zero emissions.

He called for urgent cooperation among African governments to invest in safe, innovative solutions like Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and Micro Modular Reactors (MMRs).

These, he said, can bring consistent, weather-independent power to communities, support off-grid industrialization, and relieve pressure on forests often overexploited for biomass.

Ngirente emphasized Rwanda’s commitment to develop its own nuclear capacity by 2030 and to train local experts with international partners. He invited global investors to collaborate and localize solutions that benefit not just Rwanda but the whole continent.

“Our continent is blessed with resources but unevenly distributed and weather-dependent. Nuclear energy provides stable, reliable power — day and night,” Ngirente said, urging leaders to act boldly and invest now for Africa’s future.

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