The OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA), the African Union (AU) and the African Commission on Nuclear Energy (AFCONE) have agreed to co-operate in support of peaceful applications of nuclear science and technology for socio-economic development across Africa.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the three organisations will advance knowledge exchange and capacity building on nuclear regulation and safety, infrastructure and policy design, scientific and technological advances and waste management. It will help ensure co-ordinated exchanges on the African continent and foster closer relationships between organisations in Africa and those within NEA member countries.
“As some African countries explore the development of nuclear energy, this partnership creates a vital platform for promoting informed, fact-based decision making and shared progress,” said NEA Director-General William D Magwood IV. “The challenges these countries face are similar to those experienced by many NEA members, and by working together we can advance economic development and skills expansion across the African continent.”
NEA introduced its Common Journey Initiative in 2024 in collaboration with the OECD Development Centre to support African countries interested in including nuclear energy in their national energy mixes. These efforts will continue under the aegis of the new MOU.
NEA notes that Africa’s energy demand is rising rapidly, driven by population growth, industrialisation, and the need for resilient, low-carbon development. Nuclear energy can offer a reliable, sustainable, and climate-friendly solution capable of supporting long-term economic transformation.
Kenya, through its Nuclear Power and Energy Agency (NuPEA), a State Department under the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum, is developing its nuclear power programme. To support regional dialogue and strengthen capacity, NuPEA and NEA will jointly host the International Conference on Nuclear Energy (ICoNE) in Nairobi in late March. ICoNE 2026 aims to bring together African governments, regulators, technical experts, academia, development partners and global nuclear institutions.
