![\"Dr.](\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/03-b5753363-af06-4aad-bf98-5c99833c30b8-22015.jpg\")
<\/figure>\nUnlike the massive, costly nuclear plants of decades past, Rwanda is embracing SMRs and micro reactors\u2014compact, innovative systems designed for efficiency and safety. <\/p>\n
\u201cSmall modular reactors range from 300 to 350 megawatts, while micro reactors can be as small as a 40-foot container,\u201d Zerbo explained. <\/p>\n
These \u201cplug-and-play\u201d reactors require minimal infrastructure upgrades, making them a viable option for African nations with developing electrical grids. <\/p>\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t need to overhaul everything like you would for a 1-gigawatt plant,\u201d he noted, contrasting Rwanda\u2019s approach with larger projects in Kenya and Egypt.<\/p>\n Addressing public concerns about nuclear safety, Zerbo emphasised technological advancements that reduce risks. <\/p>\n \u201cThe cooling systems in SMRs and micro reactors, like passive cooling or the use of thorium and molten salt, make them far safer than traditional reactors,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n He also tackled the issue of nuclear waste, a common worry. \u201cOur ambition is to use waste from one reactor as fuel for another. With micro reactors, waste is minimal, and vendors can remove and replace modules after 15 to 20 years.\u201d<\/p>\n Beyond powering its cities and villages, Rwanda’s nuclear program aims to serve as a blueprint for Africa, a vision widely discussed at the recently concluded Nuclear Energy Innovation Summit for Africa (NEISA 2025).<\/p>\n \u201cIf we succeed here, it can inspire other African nations,\u201d Zerbo remarked, pointing to countries like Ghana, Nigeria, and Burkina Faso, which are exploring similar technologies. <\/p>\n In efforts to actualise its nuclear energy ambitions, Rwanda has secured partnerships with global vendors, including Russia\u2019s Rosatom for SMRs and U.S.-based Nano Nuclear Energy and Denmark\u2019s Copenhagen Atomics for micro reactors.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re diversifying to avoid dependency and mitigate geopolitical risks,\u201d Zerbo noted, addressing concerns about aligning with partners like Rosatom amid global tensions.<\/p>\n {{From Burkina Faso to global stages Zerbo\u2019s journey to becoming Rwanda\u2019s nuclear chief is as compelling as the technology he champions. Born in Bobo-Dioulasso in 1963, when Burkina Faso was still Upper Volta, he rose from a modest upbringing to a global career in science and diplomacy. <\/p>\n As a young man, he dreamed of becoming a lawyer inspired by a French film about injustice, but a government scholarship steered him toward geophysics. His work in the mining industry and later at the CTBTO, where he monitored global nuclear tests, earned him international recognition.<\/p>\n In 2021, Zerbo briefly served as Burkina Faso\u2019s prime minister, a role cut short by a coup d\u2019\u00e9tat. <\/p>\n Reflecting on the experience, he remained unfazed. <\/p>\n \u201cI never felt threatened,\u201d he said, describing the chaotic night when gunfire erupted in Ouagadougou. \u201cI was watching a football match with the president when it started. I knew I hadn\u2019t done anything to compromise myself.\u201d <\/p>\n His resilience and optimism continue to shine through as he serves Africa, now from Kigali.<\/p>\n Drawing on his experiences in Burkina Faso, where jihadist terrorism remains a growing threat, he stressed the need for regional unity. <\/p>\n \u201cTerrorism thrives where people lack opportunity,\u201d he said, advocating for a dual approach of deterrence and development. <\/p>\n \u201cWe need to give people a reason to live, not just fight with guns.\u201d <\/p>\n He sees Rwanda\u2019s stability and progress as a beacon of hope, likening it to a phoenix rising from its ashes after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, which claimed more than a million lives and left a trail of destruction.<\/p>\n \u201cRwanda\u2019s nuclear program is about showing what\u2019s possible when you combine vision, discipline, and courage.\u201d<\/p>\n Watch the full interview with Dr. Lassina Zerbo on The Long Form podcast to hear more about his journey and Rwanda\u2019s energy ambitions.<\/p>\n![\"In](\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/pic-7-86196.jpg\")
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