Rwanda plans to invest up to $6bn in NPPs as part of its strategy to secure reliable electricity and support long-term economic growth, President Paul Kagame told the global nuclear energy summit in Paris. Rwanda intends to deploy small modular reactors (SMRs) to expand electricity generation and support industrial development, aiming to have its first NPP operational around 2030.
Addressing government leaders, regulators and industry executives at the summit, Kagame said: Rwanda aims to be a high-income country by 2050. That requires abundant electricity, and that is why we have decided to make nuclear central to our strategy.”
Rwanda has increased electricity access in recent years through hydropower, solar and methane gas projects, but will need much more reliable power as industries and digital infrastructure grow. Kagame said nuclear energy could help provide the stable baseload electricity needed to power sectors such as manufacturing, mineral processing and data centres. “Small modular reactors are especially suited to Africa’s requirements,” Kagame said.
The nuclear programme is expected to help Rwanda expand its electricity generation capacity to around 5 GWe by 2050 with the institutional and technical groundwork needed for nuclear power already under development.
The Rwanda Atomic Energy Board (RAEB) was established in 2020. Rwanda has already trained hundreds of specialists in nuclear science and engineering. The government aims to have a specialised workforce of approximately 230 professionals by 2028 to operate and regulate future facilities. Efforts are underway to draft nuclear laws, identify potential reactor sites, and strengthen national regulatory bodies.
Under a 2023 agreement with the Canadian-German startup Dual Fluid Energy, a test reactor is expected to be operational by 2026. It will not provide grid power but will serve as a “proof-of-concept” for advanced liquid-fuel technology. The Rwandan government agreed to provide the site and infrastructure for the project, while Dual Fluid is responsible for the technical implementation of the partnership. The reactor is still in the conceptual design stage.
Rwanda has also signed agreements with Russia (Rosatom) to establish a Centre for Nuclear Science and Technology and is exploring further SMR development with the US. In October 2025, Rwandan Prime Minister Justin Nsengiyumva met with US Energy Secretary Wright to strengthen cooperation in energy innovation, specifically focusing on SMRs, natural gas, and critical minerals. In August 2024, the Rwanda Atomic Energy Board (RAEB) signed a memorandum of understanding with the US-based NANO Nuclear Energy to explore the deployment of microreactors and SMRs.
However, Kagame said financing remains one of the biggest obstacles for countries trying to develop nuclear energy. “Nuclear energy projects require tailored financing packages, which are still unfamiliar to many development banks,” he said. He urged international financial institutions to expand support for nuclear projects, noting that the World Bank had recently begun reconsidering its long-standing restrictions on financing nuclear energy following calls from governments during global climate discussions. This should translate into practical financing mechanisms that allow developing countries to access capital for nuclear infrastructure, he said.
Kagame also announced that Rwanda will host the 2026 Nuclear Energy Innovation Summit for Africa in Kigali, which will bring together governments, investors and industry leaders to discuss the future of nuclear power on the continent. “Nuclear energy is not too complex or risky for developing countries,” he noted. “Rwanda is ready to do what it takes to power our development with nuclear energy,” he added. “We look forward to working with partners across the world to make that vision a reality.”
