Kenya, Rwanda eye nuclear reactors

Ruto

Kenya's Ruto talks nuclear plans: Kenyan President William Ruto opened the 2026 International Conference on Nuclear Energy (ICoNE), held in Nairobi last month, with his country's plans to grow its current power capacity from 3,300 MW to 10,000 MW in the next five to seven years, with 3,000 MW to be generated from nuclear sources.

At the heart of this expansion is a 2,000-MW nuclear power plant planned in Siaya County, with construction expected to begin in 2027 and operation in 2034, he said.

Ruto noted that South Africa's Koeberg nuclear power plant-a 1,854-MWe facility comprising two pressurized water reactors that opened in the 1980s-is the launch pad for nuclear power in Africa. He welcomed the first such plant in his home country.

"To the people of Siaya County, the site of Kenya's first nuclear power plant, I invite you to be partners in this journey," Ruto said in his speech at ICoNE 2026. "I encourage you to seek a deeper understanding of the immense economic benefits this project will bring, from high-value jobs to infrastructure development."

He continued, "Let me reaffirm that nuclear energy will be a true game changer for Kenya. It will sustainably and safely power our industries, accelerate our development, and propel us firmly on the path to a first-world economy."

ICoNE 2026 was jointly hosted by the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency, Kenya's Nuclear Power and Energy Agency, the U.S. Department of State's FIRST Program, and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power. The March conference (not to be confused with the Association of Mechanical Engineers' similarly named ICONE) brought together more than 500 African government officials, regulators, experts, and others for three days of discussion about nuclear energy's potential to transform the continent.

Rwanda wants SMRs: A March review from the International Atomic Energy Agency reported that Rwanda is making strides toward adding nuclear power to its energy mix and is progressing on its nuclear infrastructure plans, which include deploying its first small modular reactor in the 2030s.

Rwanda aims to have nuclear power supply 60-70 percent of its energy mix, with medium- and long-term nuclear power generation incorporated into its national energy sector strategies and its National Land-Use Master Plan, according to the IAEA. The country's Nuclear Power Program was established under a 2020 presidential order that also established the country's Atomic Energy Board.

In early March, the IAEA's Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review team spent eight days in Rwanda on a review mission of the country's infrastructure development. Ahead of this mission, Rwandan officials prepared a self-evaluation report and supporting documents detailing nuclear infrastructure issues.

During their mission, the team identified good practices in Rwanda that could benefit other countries seeking to build out their nuclear facilities, such as government involvement and coordination, engagement, and emergency preparedness and response plans.

"The team also noted the progress made in the areas of drafting a new comprehensive nuclear law, initiating work to enhance the regulatory framework for a nuclear power program, conducting site surveys, and identifying candidate sites for the planned SMR project," the IAEA said.

Jimmy Gasore, Rwanda's minister of infrastructure, said of the review, "Rwanda remains firmly committed to the responsible, safe, and transparent development of nuclear power infrastructure. The IAEA's review provides us with invaluable guidance to ensure that our national framework aligns with international safety standards and global best practices."

The IAEA and Rwanda will work together on an integrated workplan that will be based on the findings of the eight-day mission.