Africa’s nuclear ambitions are no longer defined by long-term aspirations alone. According to Ben Alex, Nuclear Specialist at Hatch, the conversation has shifted decisively from policy discussions to project delivery.
Speaking at the Nuclear in Africa side event which was launched at ENLIT Africa, Alex presented an overview of the 2026 nuclear landscape, arguing that the continent has entered a new phase where success will be measured by execution rather than ambition.
His presentation explored the progress made over the past year, the opportunities emerging across the continent and the practical challenges that will determine whether Africa’s nuclear renaissance becomes a reality.
Alex began by placing Africa’s ambitions within the context of a rapidly expanding global nuclear market.
He noted that nuclear energy is experiencing its strongest period of growth in more than four decades. Worldwide, 71 reactors are currently under construction across 16 countries, while 417 reactors are already operating in 31 countries. More than 20 countries have also committed through the COP28 process to support the goal of tripling global nuclear capacity by 2050. According to the International Energy Agency’s high-case scenario, global nuclear capacity could reach 992GW by 2050, approximately 2.6 times today’s installed fleet.
Alex explained that several factors are driving this renewed interest, including climate commitments, growing electricity demand from artificial intelligence and data centres, energy security concerns and the need to replace ageing nuclear fleets. Africa, he argued, is now positioned as an important contributor to this global expansion rather than simply an observer.
One of the central themes of the presentation was Africa’s collective ambition to develop 15GW of nuclear capacity by 2035.
Alex explained that this target, developed through the Nuclear Business Platform, is supported by announced programmes across South Africa, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Uganda and Morocco. The associated market opportunity is estimated at approximately $105 billion.
Importantly, he stressed that this figure extends well beyond reactor procurement. It includes construction, manufacturing, equipment supply, transmission infrastructure, regulatory development, workforce training, operations and maintenance, fuel logistics and supporting services throughout the lifetime of nuclear facilities.
He also noted that Africa’s local content requirements and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) create opportunities for a significant share of this value to remain within the continent.
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Reflecting on developments since the previous year, Alex argued that Africa’s nuclear programmes have moved beyond conceptual planning.
South Africa formalised new nuclear within its Integrated Resource Plan while continuing the long-term operation programme for Koeberg. The National Nuclear Regulator approved the life extension of Koeberg Unit 2 following the earlier approval for Unit 1.
Meanwhile, Ghana completed site characterisation work and prepared for its next International Atomic Energy Agency Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review mission.
Egypt’s El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant also continued construction, with the reactor pressure vessel for Unit 1 installed and commercial operation targeted for the second half of 2028.
Alex described these developments as evidence that Africa’s nuclear story is increasingly being defined by licences, construction milestones and approved programmes rather than memoranda of understanding or policy announcements.
While significant progress has been made, Alex cautioned that grid capacity remains one of the most important technical considerations for countries pursuing nuclear power.
Using the N-1 contingency principle, he explained that electricity systems must be capable of absorbing the sudden loss of their largest generating unit without destabilising the grid.
Based on current grid sizes, South Africa and Egypt are well positioned to accommodate large Generation III+ reactors. Nigeria sits close to the threshold where either a single large reactor or small modular reactors (SMRs) may be suitable, while countries such as Kenya, Ghana and Rwanda are currently better aligned with smaller reactor technologies.
Rather than viewing nuclear deployment as a one-size-fits-all solution, Alex suggested that technology selection should reflect each country’s grid capacity, intended applications and long-term deployment strategy.
The presentation highlighted that successful nuclear programmes require far more than selecting a reactor technology.
Alex outlined a structured pathway beginning with technology selection and alignment with the International Atomic Energy Agency’s milestone approach before progressing through pilot projects, modular deployment, workforce development and eventually regional cooperation.
He emphasised that countries should establish supply chains, develop centres of excellence and build local technical capability before pursuing large-scale expansion.
Alex identified human capital as an area where encouraging progress has already been made.
Ghana has commissioned a NuScale E2 simulation centre at the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, providing full-scope SMR operator training. Kenya has partnered with the International Atomic Energy Agency to deliver SMR training programmes aligned with its planned deployment, while Rwanda has trained more than 230 nuclear specialists since 2022. South Africa’s National Nuclear Regulator also continues to expand its regulatory capability.
As a result, Alex suggested that workforce readiness is increasingly shifting from being a constraint to becoming an enabler for future programmes.
Despite the positive momentum, Alex identified several issues that still require attention.
Financing remains a major hurdle, with many African utilities unable to support the long-term financial commitments associated with nuclear projects. Fuel security, particularly for advanced SMR designs requiring higher enriched uranium, presents another strategic consideration.
He also highlighted vendor selection as a long-term commitment that extends well beyond construction, noting that nuclear partnerships often span several decades.
In addition, public acceptance remains an important regulatory consideration, with recent appeals relating to Koeberg’s long-term operation illustrating the importance of maintaining public confidence throughout project development.
Alex stressed that successful programmes would depend on locking in technology choices early, strengthening electricity grids before reactor deployment, investing in training, securing financing and embedding local content from the outset.
The continent’s focus, he concluded, must now be on execution rather than aspiration.
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