Choosing between large nuclear reactors and small modular reactors (SMRs) should not be viewed as a binary decision for African countries, according to Ama-tabu Mozagba, the Senior Manager: Project Management at the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (NECSA).
Instead, countries should first understand their grid requirements, industrial demand and financing capabilities before determining which technology best meets their needs.
Speaking during the Nuclear in Africa side event at Enlit Africa, Mozagba presented a project-focused perspective on how reactor technologies can support Africa’s future energy systems, arguing that successful deployment depends on matching the right technology to the right application.
Mozagba explained that the discussion should move beyond comparing large reactors and SMRs as competing technologies.
“The discussion is no longer just about the large reactor versus SMR,” she said. “It’s really about which technology fits which grid, industrial load required for the country or the nation, and the financing model and timeline.”
She outlined several factors that should be considered when selecting reactor technology, including grid size, capital requirements, project timelines, financing, industrial demand and scalability.
Large reactors were presented as being suitable for larger electricity grids, while SMRs are better suited to lower or moderate grid capacities. Mozagba also noted that although SMRs require lower upfront capital investment, they are not necessarily cheaper than large reactors when comparing the cost per megawatt.
Mozagba described SMRs as an important technology for specific applications while cautioning against viewing them as a universal solution.
She identified:
However, she said SMRs are not intended to replace large-scale national baseload generation, major coal fleet replacement or export-driven power generation.
Instead, she described SMRs as providing flexibility and enabling countries to expand nuclear capacity in stages where appropriate.
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Mozagba presented Africa’s growing electricity demand as a key reason for considering both technologies.
She highlighted that approximately 600 million people in sub-Saharan Africa remain without electricity, while demand continues to grow alongside urbanisation and industrial development.
Within this context, she argued that a hybrid approach combining large reactors and SMRs offers the greatest flexibility.
“In South Africa, we’ve opted for a hybrid solution, large scale and SMRs, because it makes sense for our grid,” she said.
She added that large reactors provide national grid stability, while SMRs can support industrialisation and expand regional access to nuclear energy.
Mozagba also outlined NECSA’s current work on small modular reactors. She explained that the organisation has issued an Expression of Interest (EOI) for SMRs as part of its nuclear research mandate.
Rather than focusing solely on electricity generation, she said the programme is considering broader applications including desalination, process heat and isotope production.
She noted that NECSA’s objective is to position itself as a future original equipment manufacturer capable of supporting SMR deployment both within South Africa and across the continent.
During the audience discussion, the NECSA official was asked whether African countries should wait for SMR technologies to mature further before making investment decisions.
She responded that countries should first focus on planning their electricity grids before selecting reactor technologies.
“I don’t believe it’s good to take a risk,” she said, referring to investing in technologies without fully understanding the associated financial, regulatory and project risks. She emphasised that countries should understand their grid requirements and long-term objectives before deciding which reactor technology to pursue.
Mozagba also stressed the importance of proven technologies, noting that regulators require confidence that reactor designs have demonstrated safe operation.
In closing Mozagba reiterated that both large reactors and SMRs have roles to play in Africa’s nuclear future.
“Both are important, they both serve different purposes,” she concluded.
She said large reactors and SMRs should be viewed as complementary technologies that can be deployed according to national requirements, with technology selection guided by grid capability, financing, industrial demand and long-term energy planning rather than by preference for one reactor type over another.
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