He made the remarks on May 16, 2026, during a two-day consultative meeting organized by the institution in partnership with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.
The forum, which started on May 15, focused on strategies to support industrial development in Rwanda and advance plans to generate electricity using nuclear energy.
Dr. Ndahayo said the discussions were necessary because developing a nuclear power plant requires extensive planning, investment, and coordination.
“The objective is to ensure that as many local resources as possible contribute to implementing the nuclear energy project. When such projects are managed effectively and at a high standard, they can significantly boost the country’s economy,” he said.
On May 16, experts and representatives from several African countries met to discuss how large-scale nuclear energy projects could be financed and implemented across the continent.
Dr. Ndahayo noted that many African countries face financial constraints when pursuing projects of this scale, as the investment required can sometimes exceed national budgets or even a country’s gross domestic product.
He explained that UNECA has conducted studies exploring financing mechanisms that could help developing countries mobilize the resources needed to build nuclear power infrastructure.
According to Dr. Ndahayo, an assessment conducted by experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency found that Rwanda has made significant progress in building the institutional and technical capacity needed to adopt nuclear energy.
He said the findings indicate that the country is on track to begin implementation works by 2028.
“Our target is that by 2028, construction of a nuclear power plant should begin,” he said.
However, he acknowledged that a number of major requirements still need to be completed within the next two years, including selecting the technology to be used, securing financing, and identifying contractors.
“There is still a lot to be done within that timeframe. We must finalize the technology, secure funding sources, identify the companies that will build the plant, and ensure everything is ready so that the foundation stone can be laid in 2028,” he added.
Dr. Ndahayo also said Rwanda’s hosting of Nuclear Energy Innovation Summit on Africa, scheduled for May 18–21, 2026, will provide an important opportunity to attract potential partners for the project.
He revealed that six potential sites across Rwanda have already been identified for the construction of the plant, though detailed feasibility studies are still ongoing.
The selected locations were chosen based on several criteria, including access to water, relatively flat terrain, low seismic risk, and limited human activity nearby.
“We have identified six possible locations that meet the initial requirements, such as water availability, absence of high mountains, low exposure to earthquakes, and limited population activity,” he said.
Despite this progress, Dr. Ndahayo stressed that further in-depth geological and environmental studies are still required before a final site can be selected.
“Identifying the sites is only the beginning. The next step is conducting detailed studies. Even for a seven-story building, engineers first examine the ground conditions carefully. Imagine the level of assessment needed for a nuclear power plant,” he explained.
“You have to go as deep as 100 meters underground to confirm whether the site is suitable. That is why we cannot yet disclose the exact locations, because the studies are still ongoing.”
Rwanda aims to have a nuclear power plant operational by 2030 as part of its long-term strategy to expand electricity generation and diversify energy sources.
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