President Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania has arrived in Rwanda to attend the Nuclear Energy Innovation Summit for Africa (NEISA 2026), where regional and global leaders are meeting in Kigali to discuss the future of nuclear science and technology on the continent.
The summit, held under the theme Powering Africa’s Future: Turning Nuclear Energy Ambition into Investable Reality, brings together policymakers, scientists, and energy stakeholders at a time when African countries are increasingly exploring nuclear energy as part of long-term strategies to address rising electricity demand and support industrial development.
For many nations, nuclear discussions are still emerging from being treated as distant or politically sensitive topics into more practical energy planning frameworks.
Rwanda is among the countries actively advancing nuclear energy plans as part of its long-term development strategy. The government aims to generate up to 1.5 gigawatts of electricity from nuclear power by 2050, as it works to expand national electricity generation capacity and prepare for future demand.
Officials estimate that electricity demand in Rwanda could exceed 5,000 megawatts in the coming decades, compared to the current installed capacity of about 406 megawatts. This growing gap has pushed the country to consider more scalable and reliable energy options.
A central part of Rwanda’s approach is the adoption of Small Modular Reactor (SMR) technology, which authorities describe as a more flexible and practical alternative to traditional large nuclear plants. SMRs are seen as better suited for phased deployment and for countries building nuclear capability gradually.
President Paul Kagame has previously described nuclear energy as a key pillar of Rwanda’s industrialisation agenda. Speaking at a nuclear energy summit in Paris earlier this year, he said nuclear power would help diversify the country’s energy mix while ensuring a stable electricity supply for long-term transformation.
NEISA 2026, which runs from 18-21 May, 2026, is expected to bring together several heads of state and senior officials, including Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé of Togo and Rt. Hon. Ali Mahamane Zeine of Niger, alongside leading figures in global nuclear governance and energy policy.
Among the international participants are Rafael Mariano Grossi of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Dr. Lassina Zerbo, William D. Magwood IV of the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency, and Sylvie Bermann of the World Nuclear Exhibition, all contributing to high-level discussions on nuclear development.
The summit positions Rwanda as an emerging hub for continental energy dialogue, as African countries explore nuclear power as part of broader efforts to secure sustainable, reliable, and future-oriented energy systems.
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