The move comes as the country seeks to expand its electricity generation capacity. The Government of Rwanda estimates that national demand could exceed 5,000 megawatts in the coming decades, compared to the roughly 406 megawatts currently available.
To help bridge that gap, Rwanda has opted to pursue Small Modular Reactor (SMR) technology, arguing that it offers a more practical and scalable solution for the country than conventional large-scale nuclear plants.
President Paul Kagame, while speaking at the Nuclear Energy Summit in Paris, France, in March this year, described nuclear energy as a key pillar for powering the country’s industrial growth while meeting its climate responsibilities.
“We have decided to make nuclear central to our strategy,” Kagame said. “It will diversify our energy mix while providing the stability required for industrial growth and long-term transformation.”
This strategic roadmap takes center stage as Rwanda hosts the second edition of the Nuclear Energy Innovation Summit on Africa (NEISA 2026) at the Kigali Convention Centre. The high-level gathering brings together continental heads of state, including Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan and Togolese President Faure Gnassingbé, alongside global industry leaders like Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Unlike hydroelectric dams or fossil-fuel-powered plants, nuclear reactors require relatively small amounts of fuel to produce substantial amounts of electricity. Uranium, the fuel used in nuclear power generation, releases heat through a process known as nuclear fission, in which atomic nuclei split apart. The resulting heat is used to produce steam that drives turbines to generate electricity.
According to energy experts, a single gram of uranium can generate enough energy to produce one megawatt of electricity per day, roughly equivalent to the output generated by three tons of coal.
Why Rwanda chose small modular reactors
Rwanda began studying the feasibility of nuclear power in 2017. Early assessments concluded that constructing a large conventional nuclear plant would be difficult due to the country’s limited land area and infrastructure constraints.
Officials noted that a traditional 1,000-megawatt reactor would exceed the absorption capacity of Rwanda’s current electricity grid. In addition, large nuclear facilities typically require extensive exclusion zones of up to 40 kilometers surrounding the site for safety purposes, a condition difficult to meet in Rwanda’s densely populated landscape.
As a result, policymakers turned to Small Modular Reactors, a newer generation of nuclear technology designed to operate on a smaller footprint while maintaining significant electricity output.
SMRs generally require less land, in some cases around 20 hectares, and are designed with passive safety systems intended to automatically shut down reactors in the event of technical failure.
International partnerships taking shape
Rwanda has already entered into several international partnerships aimed at supporting its nuclear energy ambitions.
In 2018, the country launched cooperation with Russia focused on establishing a nuclear research centre that could eventually support domestic nuclear energy production.
In August 2024, Rwanda signed a cooperation agreement with the U.S.-based company Nano Nuclear Energy Inc to collaborate on advanced nuclear technologies intended for electricity generation.
Earlier, the government also signed an agreement with Dual Fluid Energy Inc to test nuclear reactor technologies that could potentially be deployed in Rwanda.
The broader objective is for nuclear energy to contribute approximately 1.5 gigawatts of Rwanda’s projected 5-gigawatt electricity demand by 2050.
Site selection and safety assessments underway
Authorities have already identified preliminary locations for future reactor installations based on visible geographic conditions. However, detailed scientific assessments are still underway to determine whether the sites meet international safety requirements.
Among the key considerations are seismic stability, water availability, and population density. Nuclear facilities require reliable water sources for cooling and steam generation and are generally located away from densely populated areas to minimise potential risks.
Multi-billion-dollar investment
The nuclear program is expected to require substantial financial investment.
Although final construction costs have not yet been determined, Rwanda estimates that each megawatt of nuclear generating capacity could cost approximately $4 million to develop.
At that rate, achieving the country’s target of 1,500 megawatts of nuclear-generated electricity could require investments approaching $6 billion, though officials acknowledge that the estimate remains preliminary.
Rwanda is also investing in workforce development to support the emerging sector.
In 2024, reports indicated that more than 200 Rwandan students were selected for overseas training in nuclear science and engineering disciplines. The initiative is intended to build a domestic pool of specialists capable of operating and maintaining future nuclear facilities.
Initial plans focused on deploying a single SMR unit capable of generating approximately 200 megawatts of electricity. Current projections, however, envision four such modules, each producing around 200 megawatts.
The expansion would significantly increase demand for specialised personnel, with estimates suggesting that more than 400 additional experts will eventually be required as the sector grows.
Officials say additional reactor modules could be introduced progressively as Rwanda’s energy needs continue to expand.
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