Briefing Paper

Atoms for Africa’s Development: The Case for Nuclear Power Generation in Africa

Alternative sources of electrical power generation are currently attracting more attention, primarily due to global demands for sustainability and environmental considerations. Similarly, many African countries are attempting to increase electrification, but face environmental, economic, and legislative challenges owing mainly to their level of development. This paper argues that despite the challenges identified, African countries should include nuclear power as part of their energy mix in order to address the energy gap while complying with global trends of transitioning to cleaner energy. These challenges are not necessarily unique to Africa but may be amplified owing to specific circumstances of the continent such as governance, financing, lack of supporting infrastructure and political will.