As of January 2026, 413 nuclear power reactors were in operation, only two of which are located in Africa.[1] Most of these reactors produce between 900 and 1200 megawatts electric (MWe) and more than 80 percent are based on well understood light-water reactor technology. With the advent of small modular reactors (SMRs), many developing countries are considering nuclear power due to SMRs’ reduced size and power output, scalability, flexibility in siting, passive safety systems, variety of applications and potential reduction in overall cost. As compared to large-scale nuclear power plants, SMRs currently under development cover a wide range of power output (from microreactors up to 10 MWe through to large SMRs up to 470 Mwe). Many SMR designs are also based on light-water reactor technology, though some are envisaged to run on novel fuel types, such as high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU).[2] Deployment of nuclear power in newcomer countries, either with large-scale nuclear power plants or with SMRs, requires robust and early planning, including the development of a sustainable nuclear supply chain.
During the conference, participants discussed the nuclear supply chain as encompassing the full lifecycle of a nuclear power programme, from early resource extraction through to end-of-life management. The nuclear supply chain can be thought of as having three interconnected segments: upstream, midstream, and downstream.
Upstream activities include uranium exploration and mining, conversion, enrichment, fuel fabrication, and the sourcing of associated materials such as graphite and specialised metals. Africa holds significant reserves of several of these materials, yet much of the value-added processing currently takes place outside the continent.[3] This was seen as both a vulnerability and a longer-term opportunity for supply chain development: availability of materials was considered an asset, but the associated domestic capacity to process such materials will need to be cultivated for long-term localisation strategies.
Midstream activities form the industrial core of the supply chain and include design of the nuclear powerplant, manufacturing, component fabrication, forging, machining, welding, quality assurance, engineering, construction and licensing. Participants noted that many of the skills required in this segment are not nuclear-specific and overlap with existing industrial capabilities in sectors such as mining, construction, advanced manufacturing, and digital technologies. In this regard, the view was expressed that domestic industry could adapt its existing capacity for nuclear supply chain development and should do so early, even before the full supply chain is established.
Downstream activities include plant operation, maintenance, refuelling, spent fuel management, waste management, and decommissioning. There was broad agreement that downstream considerations, particularly waste management, should be integrated from the outset of programme planning, rather than addressed after completion of construction or the start of a plant’s operating life.
The relationship between the nuclear supply chain and electricity grid infrastructure was a recurring theme. Grid capacity and stability were identified as essential enablers of nuclear deployment. Some participants noted that SMRs could reduce grid complexity and facilitate hybrid systems that combine nuclear and renewable energy. Integrating nuclear into broader energy systems was seen as a potential way to reduce long-term system costs and infrastructure build-out compared with renewables-only pathways.
Standardisation was also emphasised as a means of strengthening supply chains. Greater alignment around reactor designs and technical standards could simplify fuel and other component or services supply, facilitate supplier qualification, and reduce regulatory burdens. At the same time, participants stressed that supply chains require credible demand signals to justify investment, particularly for advanced fuels and specialised component engineering and manufacturing.
Finally, there was broad recognition that building a resilient nuclear supply chain is a long-term endeavour. Participants cautioned against treating supply chain development as a one-off project, noting that meaningful localisation and diversification may take several decades. While a pan-African vision was discussed, many participants viewed regional approaches as a more practical and near-term pathway, with early decisions to build playing a critical role in catalysing supply chain development. These regional approaches could entail partnerships with and among the African countries most advanced in nuclear capabilities to accelerate progress within their respective regions.
[1] IAEA Power Reactor Information System. Available at: https://pris.iaea.org/pris/home.aspx.
[2] Most light-water reactors use uranium fuel enriched up to five percent in the isotope uranium-235. HALEU is enriched up to just under 20 percent uranium-235. HALEU fuel has fuel cycle benefits including enabling smaller, more flexible designs with longer refuelling intervals, improving reliability, grid compatibility, and long-term system performance even if the fuel itself is more expensive. Owing to the higher enrichment, the HALEU fuel cycle will require adaptations in approaches to nuclear security and nuclear safeguards. Additionally, the commercial supply of HALEU today is not robust enough to support full-scale nuclear power programmes and will need to be scaled up in light of SMR deployment.
[3] Lennox Yieke, “Africa’s critical minerals reserves: pressure mounts to move beyond raw exports”, African Business, 21 November 2025. Available at: https://african.business/2025/11/resources/africas-critical-minerals-reserves-pressure-mounts-to-move-beyond-raw-exports.