Nigeria Set To Benefit From Continental Nuclear Energy Pact

Nigeria stands to gain from a new partnership aimed at advancing nuclear energy in Africa, following the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the African Union (AU), the African Commission on Nuclear Energy (AFCONE), and the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA).
The agreement, inked on the sidelines of the 39th AU Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, provides a framework for collaboration on capacity building, regulatory strengthening, research, innovation, and the mobilisation of technical and financial resources to support Africa’s energy transition and industrialisation agenda.
The MoU also promotes knowledge exchange between African countries and NEA member nations, including the US, UK, France, Japan, and Germany. It is valid for an initial period of three years, with the possibility of renewal upon review.
Lerato Mataboge, AU Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy, described the MoU as a strategic step toward strengthening Africa’s energy sovereignty. She highlighted that while Africa supplies 15–18 percent of the world’s uranium, it contributes less than one percent to global nuclear electricity generation.
Currently, South Africa is the only African country using nuclear energy, accounting for about five percent of its electricity with an installed capacity of 1,854 gigawatts. Egypt is constructing a nuclear power plant, expected to be completed in 2031.
William Magwood IV, NEA Director-General, said the partnership would provide a platform for informed decision-making and skills development across the continent. “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 Africa,” he said.
Nigeria, along with Algeria, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, and Morocco, has declared ambitions to develop nuclear energy. The country has set a 2030 target for nuclear energy to contribute eight percent of its power generation mix, positioning it to directly benefit from the AU-NEA collaboration.