IAEA releases Outlook for Nuclear Energy in Africa

The IAEA launched a new publication, “Outlook for Nuclear Energy in Africa,” at a side event co-organized with the Clean Energy Ministerial and the South African Department of Electricity and Energy on the margins of a G20 energy transitions meeting in South Africa.

• Publication launch (confirmed): The IAEA released Outlook for Nuclear Energy in Africa; the report surveys Africa’s energy landscape, projects nuclear capacity could increase tenfold by 2050 in the high-case and fivefold in the low-case, and highlights that South Africa’s Koeberg Nuclear Power Station has two units supplying nearly two gigawatts of electrical capacity. It identifies Egypt as building its first nuclear power plant, and notes Ghana and Kenya are working with the IAEA on infrastructure development. It also names Namibia, Niger and South Africa among top uranium producers.
• Partnerships and planned activities: South Africa is partnering with the IAEA during its G20 presidency to focus on implementing nuclear new build programmes in Africa and interest in small modular reactors (SMRs) due to grid suitability and lower capital costs (confirmed). The IAEA is developing a publication on the coal-to-nuclear transition and is set to engage at the G20 Energy Transitions Ministerial Meeting scheduled for October in South Africa; that report is planned for release just ahead of the ministerial (planned).