In association with the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, the United States Department of Energy and the Vienna Centre for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation
African countries are actively pursuing the developmental objectives outlined in the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the African Union’s Agenda 2063. Reliable and sufficient power is crucial for realising these aspirations and many are exploring clean energy sources to power their development agendas. Countries are considering incorporating nuclear power into their energy mixes. However, the adoption of nuclear power faces resistance and scepticism, with citizens often associating it with weapons of mass destruction or environmental damage from nuclear waste.
African countries are at various stages of implementing nuclear power programmes, ranging from initial phases to advanced and operational stages, with South Africa, Egypt, and Ghana leading the way. Public perception in most African countries is influenced by the safety, cost, and reliability of nuclear power programmes. Statistically, nuclear power is among the safest energy sources. However, the scale and impact of past nuclear accidents have left lasting global impressions, making safety a primary driver of public perception and governmental considerations, especially regarding siting.
Nuclear power programmes require significant financial investments at all stages, which most African countries may not be able to undertake unilaterally. With governments facing narrowing fiscal flexibility amidst public expectations for development, justifying these investments becomes challenging, potentially necessitating external financial support to realise civil nuclear power ambitions.
While nuclear power’s reliability is generally acknowledged, many African countries lack robust national electricity grids to accommodate the power generated by traditional nuclear power plants (typically 1000 Megawatts electric). Technological advancements and the emergence of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) offer potential solutions to these challenges. Despite these opportunities, a strong regulatory environment and continuous stakeholder engagement are essential for managing the implementation of nuclear power programmes. Many African countries have previously utilised nuclear technology in sectors such as healthcare. Optimising and expanding these applications would strengthen regulatory capacity, improve public perception of nuclear, and lay a stronger foundation for future nuclear power programmes.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) provides support to countries embarking on nuclear power through guidance, capacity building, peer review missions, and advisory services. The IAEA’s Milestones Approach offers a structured and systematic way for countries to manage and track the development of the necessary infrastructure for nuclear power. All countries considering or embarking on new nuclear power programmes, including those in Africa, follow the IAEA’s Milestones Approach.
It is against this background that Wilton Park, in partnership with the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), United States Department of Energy (DoE), and Vienna Centre for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation (VCDNP), convened key stakeholders in Nairobi, Kenya, in February 2025. The event focused on the pivotal role of regulators in the peaceful application of nuclear power and the need for effective stakeholder engagement to support informed decision-making and public debate.
This event was an outcome of a previous event held in Cape Town, South Africa, on accelerating sustainable development in Africa through scaling up peaceful nuclear uses.
The event brought together regulators, civil society organisations, and international experts to:
- Facilitate knowledge exchange between nuclear regulatory bodies and civil society organisations to support a mutual understanding of regulation and stakeholder engagement.
- Create a network of informed communicators, enabling engagements that can effectively meet the needs of a diverse range of stakeholders. This supports constructive dialogue on nuclear power in their respective spheres of influence.
- Explore channels through which civil society can amplify messages on the significance of nuclear regulations, reach marginalised communities and groups, and strengthen the role of the regulator in supporting informed communications.