Rwanda, Russia Expand Nuclear Energy Cooperation Talks

Rwanda and Russia have agreed to strengthen collaboration in the peaceful use of nuclear energy following talks between Olivier Nduhungirehe and Sergey Lavrov.

The meeting took place on April 18 on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, where both sides also explored opportunities in trade, education and capacity building.

According to officials, the two countries reaffirmed their commitment to deeper cooperation in multilateral platforms, including the United Nations, to address global and regional challenges.

The engagement comes as Rwanda intensifies efforts to adopt nuclear energy as a solution to rising electricity demand. President Paul Kagame has consistently maintained that nuclear power is safe and viable for developing nations, particularly when guided by international standards set by the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Central to Rwanda’s energy strategy is the deployment of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), an emerging technology considered more flexible, cost-effective and suitable for smaller power grids.

The country is targeting the development of nuclear plants capable of generating about 110 megawatts within the next decade, in line with its Vision 2050 agenda to expand electricity capacity and support economic growth.

Momentum is expected to build further as Kigali prepares to host the 2026 Nuclear Energy Innovation Summit for Africa, aimed at addressing key issues such as financing, regulation and workforce development in the sector.