IAEA launches Outlook for Nuclear Energy in Africa

The IAEA launched the publication “Outlook for Nuclear Energy in Africa” at a G20 side event co-organized with the Clean Energy Ministerial and the South African authorities.

• Confirmed actions: IAEA released the report “Outlook for Nuclear Energy in Africa” and is collaborating with the G20 under South Africa’s presidency; South Africa (only African country with nuclear power) operates Koeberg Nuclear Power Station (~2 gigawatts). The report states about half a billion people in Africa lack reliable electricity and that fossil fuels account for >70% of electricity production. The IAEA projects nuclear capacity in Africa could increase tenfold by 2050 (high case) and grow fivefold in the low case. Egypt is building its first nuclear power plant; Ghana and Kenya are working with the IAEA on infrastructure development. The publication highlights SMRs as suitable for Africa’s grid and notes uranium mining opportunities in Namibia, Niger, and South Africa.

• Planned initiatives / timelines: South Africa is partnering with the IAEA during its G20 presidency to focus on implementation of nuclear new build programmes in Africa. The IAEA is developing a report on coal-to-nuclear transition (covering repurposing former coal sites) that is scheduled for release just ahead of the G20 Energy Transitions Ministerial Meeting in October in South Africa.