Top 10 African Countries Advancing Nuclear Power Projects in 2025

In Summary

• Nuclear energy is advancing into Africa, with countries like Egypt and South Africa moving towards incorporating nuclear energy into their long-term energy strategies.
• In Africa, Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) are increasingly preferred, as they offer smaller costs, faster construction, and configuration opportunities for Africa's grid management structures.
• At least ten countries are negotiating formally or have currently signed technical agreements that indicate a shift in the region's terms of exploration and preliminary implementation.

Deep Dive!!

Africa's energy sector is transitioning strategically. While fossil fuel and hydropower remain the leading forms of energy supply, many African nations are in reality embracing nuclear energy as a viable option because it relates to the need for new electricity demand. Some countries are also striving toward long-term sustainable development goals globally. Nuclear energy is now transitioning from large, capital-intensive, traditional reactors to one that favours flexibility and lower cost that is best suited for local and regional infrastructure.

10. Nigeria

Nigeria's main project with Rosatom is on hold, but it still remains busy with other partners in nuclear energy. The country was also recently accepted into the US-backed FIRST program and still maintains a commitment to many nuclear partnerships. However, Nigeria's partnerships are an indication of potential, not full progress, with some amount of technical capacity and a larger power shortfall.

9. Rwanda

Rwanda has made significant progress in future nuclear technologies, particularly micro reactors and small modular reactors (SMR). In partnership with Dual Fluid from Canada, and NANO Nuclear Energy from the United States, Rwanda is now in the very early stages of evaluating demonstration models of small reactor designs which could completely alter how small nation states deploy initiatives around nuclear energy. The country has developed a clear and focused strategy around high-efficiency micro reactors that can meet its entire energy needs.

8. Tunisia

Tunisia’s past project, which includes the commissioning of a power plant in 2020, has fallen flat with little indication of operationalizing nuclear energy plans. However, Tunisia remains active in this conversation, which is considered a positive step along the way to latent capacity, accessible Russian technical assistance, and somewhat stable regional geopolitics, which could see Tunisia re-engage with nuclear policy agendas in medium-term prospects.

7. Algeria

Algeria has a longstanding history and technical capacity in nuclear research. Algeria has two reactors, Nur and Es-Salam. They were originally developed with Argentina and China which hold operational knowledge and experience that exceeds the majority of their peers. In 2024, Algeria signed a roadmap agreement with Russia about nuclear medicine and nuclear energy applications. While they could claim to have operational plants, Algeria has no concrete plans for a commercial nuclear power plant. However, Algeria's depth of technical capacity, experience, and political alignment with large nuclear-exporting countries does put it in a credible future position.

6. Kenya

Kenya has implemented several organized steps towards nuclear development. Through the Nuclear Power and Energy Agency (NuPEA), it has already outlined a timeline starting with construction in 2027 and commissioning its first plant by 2034. Kenya also developed additional cooperation with CNNC (China National Nuclear Corporation) in 2025 via an MoU to increase technical capacity in Kenya's nuclear space. The country is actively pursuing SMRs, including exploring the 100–300 MW configurations, which are seen as more practical for Kenya's grid and funding environment.

5. Morocco

Morocco's nuclear activity has been primarily in the form of R&D and international partnerships, including the operation of a research reactor and agreements with France, Russia, and China. In 2024, Morocco announced it would cooperate with France on a project to build an experimental reactor while also looking into SMRs. Morocco demonstrates a multidirectional approach including balancing Western and Eastern partnerships, demonstrating diplomatic pragmatism with a long-term vision for energy and diversification.

4. Uganda

Uganda is now one of the most ambitious countries in East Africa's nuclear movement, as it has announced plans to build a nuclear power station in Buyende, with backing from CNNC. Uganda's Energy Strategy prioritizes nuclear power alongside hydropower and renewables, with a focus on a balanced mix that could support its future industrialization. Although funding details are less clear, the government has allocated land and signed post-commitment signals that seem to be beyond mere symbolism.

3. Ghana

Ghana has both the political will and technical progress. It operates a research reactor and has been developing regulatory infrastructure via collaboration with the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency). In 2024, Ghana signed agreements with NuScale (U.S.) for SMRs and CNNC (China) for a large reactor, which has left them with a diverse technology portfolio. Ghana is also part of a U.S. FIRST program as an SMR participant which puts them at the center of global conversations. Ghana is being positioned as a regional knowledge hub for safe and responsible nuclear deployment.

2. South Africa

South Africa remains the most experienced nuclear operator on the continent, possessing Africa's only commercial nuclear power station in Koeberg. In 2025, the country signed new cooperation agreements with Chinese and domestic entities to explore SMR technologies, perhaps even reviving its once-abandoned Pebble Bed Modular Reactor program. Although a proposed 2.5 GW expansion of Koeberg was paused for public consultation at the end of 2024, South Africa has a level of institutional readiness that no other country can match given its technical capacity, skilled workforce, and independent regulator.

1. Egypt

Egypt is now leading the continent in terms of actual nuclear infrastructure under development. The El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant is underway with four reactors currently under construction that are Russian-built, totalling 4.8 GW. The $28 billion project, 85% financed through a Russian state loan, is expected to come online by 2028. When taking into account Egypt's long-term planning and fully integrated approach with Rosatom and clearer construction milestones, compared to South Africa, the El Dabaa project is the most advanced nuclear project in Africa today. While it hasn't gone down the route of SMRs yet, the promised scale and certainty of El Dabaa put Egypt well ahead of other countries in its execution.