President Kagame and IAEA’s Grossi Discuss Harnessing Nuclear Energy

By The Inspirer.

President Paul Kagame received Rafael Mariano Grossi, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), with whom he discussed various topics related to harnessing nuclear energy.

Rafael Mariano Grossi is in Rwanda to attend the Nuclear Energy Innovation Summit for Africa: NESIA 2025, a two-day event taking place in Kigali.

This summit brings together experts from 30 countries to explore how to leverage nuclear energy, particularly for electricity generation using Small Modular and Micro Reactors (SMRs).

A statement shared by the Office of the President on X read: “They discussed the potential of nuclear energy for economic development and the progress Rwanda has made in adopting Small Modular and Micro Reactors.”

SMRs are small-scale plants that generate electricity from nuclear energy. A single plant can produce up to 100 megawatts of power.

These plants can be installed in small areas ranging from 15 to 50 hectares, operated by about 230 workers, and can be relocated to remote locations away from urban centers.

They are also environmentally friendly; according to research by the World Nuclear Association, using nuclear energy reduces CO₂ emissions by 29 tonnes per gigawatt-hour (GWh).

Rwanda aims to have its own nuclear power plant generating electricity by 2030 and plans to have its workforce fully trained by 2028.

Electricity from nuclear energy is produced using uranium. Uranium is processed so that its atoms split (known as nuclear fission), generating heat.

This heat is used to boil water into steam, which then drives turbines to produce electricity. The facility where water is heated is called a “nuclear reactor.” SMRs use less water compared to conventional power generation.

Rwanda has been collaborating with various partners to achieve this technological milestone. For example, in 2023, it signed an agreement with Dual Fluid Energy Inc., a company registered in Germany and Canada, to pilot a nuclear reactor in Rwanda.

This effort goes hand in hand with partnerships with institutions in Russia and the USA to focus on developing SMRs.

Uranium provides a significant amount of energy in a small quantity—one gram of uranium can generate 1 MW per day, equivalent to the energy produced by three tonnes of coal.

Processing just one kilogram of uranium can produce up to 1,000 MW—an amount Rwanda has not yet reached, as its current total installed generation capacity stands at about 406.4 megawatts.

Grossi highlighted that Rwanda is a model of what’s possible when it comes to harnessing nuclear energy.

He emphasized that developing peaceful and advanced nuclear energy solutions is a global trend.

He added that there is no valid reason for Africa to lag behind in utilizing nuclear energy, especially given the continent’s natural resources that can support this effort.

He said, “Technology is giving us new solutions and options we didn’t have before. That’s why so many are interested now, especially in SMRs. These reactors have the advantage of being relocatable and affordable. It’s remarkable that we have these choices now.”

He explained that countries need infrastructure and skilled professionals—through training and capacity-building—to develop nuclear reactors quickly and safely.

He also stressed the importance of safety and security in advancing nuclear energy.

“The IAEA is working with African countries, and Rwanda is an example of what is possible,” he said.

Grossi added that the agency is also holding talks with countries like Niger, Nigeria, Morocco, Tunisia, and Egypt—which is currently building its first nuclear power plant.

Talks have also been held with Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal, Kenya, Namibia, and South Africa—the only African country that currently operates a nuclear power plant.

“In all these countries, the IAEA has started preparing the workforce and is working with national regulators to ensure proper oversight of nuclear energy,” he said.

Grossi noted that recently, the IAEA took a major step forward by signing an agreement with the World Bank to help countries invest in nuclear energy development.

“When implementing various projects, we’ll be there. The IAEA’s primary role is to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy. For those who have not yet worked with the IAEA, now is the time—our experts are ready. For those we’ve started working with, we assure you we’ll continue to support you. There is no reason Africa should not play its part in this global effort that is driving economic development for many countries,” he said.

Opening the summit in Kigali, Prime Minister Dr. Edouard Ngirente said that by 2050, Rwanda will require nearly five gigawatts of electricity. He stated that this is why Rwanda is investing in nuclear energy.