African nuclear power at centre of Russia-Africa summit debate
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Rwanda Inspirer
Lassina Zerbo, chairman of the board of the Rwanda Atomic Energy Board, chaired a discussion in Moscow on 28 October on developing nuclear power in Africa, including training, floating reactors and technological sovereignty. The session, held at the Russia-Africa Summit with support from Rosatom, brought together African sector officials, Rwanda Inspirer reports.
Lassina Zerbo chaired a session on the development of nuclear technologies in Africa in Moscow on 28 October, as part of the economic programme of the third Russia-Africa Summit, Rwanda Inspirer reports. The chairman of the board of the Rwanda Atomic Energy Board discussed training specialists, floating nuclear power plants and the continent’s technological sovereignty.
Rosatom director general Alexey Likhachev said the Russian nuclear group was present in 29 of Africa’s 54 countries. He also reported interest among African countries in floating power plants, after Rosatom signed the world’s first export agreement for the supply of electricity generated by such units in Indonesia.
Togo’s Minister of Mines and Energy Resources, Robert Koffi Messan Eklo, the chair of Namibia’s parliamentary committee on natural resources, Tobie Aupindi, and Egypt’s Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy, Mahmoud Esmat, also took part in the discussions. They covered the first steps towards developing a nuclear sector, the use of local expertise and applications of nuclear technology in energy, medicine, agriculture and research.
Rwanda aims to introduce nuclear power in the early 2030s, according to Rwanda Inspirer. Lassina Zerbo called for regional cooperation involving interconnected electricity grids, shared training centres and collaboration between regulatory authorities. The session follows his call to develop African nuclear power sustainably, published on 31 October.
