Rwanda Signs Deal to Obtain Small Nuclear Reactor

Written by Jose Miguel Lopez | September 17, 2023

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On September 12th Rwanda’s government signed a deal to build an “experimental” civil nuclear reactor, making it the second African country to adopt civil nuclear energy. This deal comes right after the African Climate Summit where there was unanimous support to seek development of low-carbon energy sources. It is expected that the reactor will be operational by 2026 and will be able to produce “electricity, hydrogen and synthetic fuel.” However, the reactor will not initially supply the country’s energy grid, but it will serve to explore options for renewable energy.

Currently, it is estimated that 68% of the population have access to electricity which is generated via hydropower and diesel plants. Rwanda has a population of 13 million. If testing is successful and this technology is implemented into the country’s grid, it could have a significant impact on electricity accessibility and price reduction. Nevertheless, there are some concerns about the timeline proposed for the project as the country is new to dealing with nuclear energy. Its Atomic energy board was created in 2020 after the country signed a deal with the Russian Federal Atomic Energy Agency to establish a research center in the country. This raised some security questions about the true nature of the deal. However, the government has addressed these concerns by declaring that their nuclear ambitions are peaceful and intent to promote development.

Lastly, some experts are skeptical with the claims from Dual Fuel Energy, the company in charge of the project. The questions express skepticism about the reactor capabilities and design. The only thing about the doubts is wait and see how the trials go. This will determine how the technology holds ups and its possible applications.