Rwanda plans to invest up to $6 billion in nuclear power plants to secure reliable electricity for economic growth. President Paul Kagame announced the plan at a global nuclear energy summit in Paris hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron. The country intends to deploy small modular reactors (SMRs) to expand electricity generation and support industrial development. Rwanda hopes to have its first nuclear power plant operational around 2030 as it targets high-income status by 2050.
Speaking to government leaders, regulators and industry executives at the summit, Kagame said nuclear energy has become central to Rwanda’s long-term development plans as the country aims to become a high-income economy by 2050. “Rwanda aims to be a high-income country by 2050,” Kagame said. “That requires abundant electricity, and that is why we have decided to make nuclear central to our strategy.”
Many African countries are expanding electricity generation to support industrialisation and rising energy demand. Rwanda has increased electricity access in recent years through hydropower, solar and methane gas projects, but officials say the country will need much more reliable power as industries and digital infrastructure grow. Kagame said nuclear energy could help provide the stable “baseload” electricity needed to power sectors such as manufacturing, mineral processing and data centres. As part of the plan, Rwanda intends to develop small modular reactors (SMRs), a newer type of nuclear technology designed to be smaller, more flexible and easier to deploy than conventional nuclear plants. These reactors are often considered suitable for countries with relatively small electricity grids.
“Small modular reactors are especially suited to Africa’s requirements,” Kagame said. The nuclear programme is expected to help Rwanda expand its electricity generation capacity toward about 5 gigawatts by 2050, a level authorities say will be necessary to support the country’s long-term economic ambitions. Rwanda has spent several years preparing the institutional and technical groundwork needed for nuclear development. The government established the Rwanda Atomic Energy Board to oversee the sector and has been working with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to strengthen regulatory systems, safety standards and technical capacity.
Hundreds of Rwandans have already been trained in nuclear science and engineering, while the government plans to build a workforce of around 230 specialised professionals by 2028 to operate and regulate the sector. According to Kagame, a recent Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review conducted by the IAEA confirmed that Rwanda has made progress in establishing the key requirements needed to develop nuclear energy and can move to the next phase under the agency’s milestone framework.
Despite these preparations, Kagame said financing remains one of the biggest obstacles for countries trying to develop nuclear energy. “Nuclear energy projects require tailored financing packages, which are still unfamiliar to many development banks,” he said , urging international financial institutions to expand support for nuclear projects, noting that the World Bank has recently begun reconsidering its long-standing restrictions on financing nuclear energy following calls from governments during global climate discussions.
Kagame said the shift should translate into practical financing mechanisms that allow developing countries to access capital for nuclear infrastructure. Rwanda plans to use nuclear technology mainly for civilian purposes, including electricity generation and medical applications. The government hopes to have its first nuclear power plant operational around 2030.
Partnerships with international firms Rwanda has already begun working with international partners to advance its nuclear plans. In 2023, the country signed an agreement with Dual Fluid Energy Inc., a company registered in Germany and Canada, to test advanced nuclear reactor technology in Rwanda. Authorities have also partnered with companies from Russia and the United States to explore the development of small modular reactors.
Experts say SMRs can be built on relatively small sites of 15 to 50 hectares and operated by a workforce of about 230 people, making them suitable for emerging electricity markets. Supporters argue that nuclear power could also help reduce greenhouse-gas emissions. Research cited by the World Nuclear Association suggests nuclear energy produces significantly lower carbon emissions than fossil fuels. Kagame also announced that Rwanda will host the 2026 Nuclear Energy Innovation Summit for Africa in Kigali, which will bring together governments, investors and industry leaders to discuss the future of nuclear power on the continent.
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