Arguably no technology has provoked as much fear and excitement as nuclear energy. Its peaceful use expanded rapidly after World War II, and nuclear capability remains a decisive factor in military power. High-profile accidents at Three Mile Island (1979), Chernobyl (1986) and Fukushima (2011) dented public confidence, even as nuclear power is again promoted as a low-carbon alternative to fossil fuels.
At present Africa has only one commercial nuclear power station: Koeberg, near Cape Town, South Africa. But several countries on the continent are pursuing new nuclear projects, and vendors from nations such as South Korea, China and Russia see Africa as a potential growth market.
Report finds mixed prospects
In 2025 South African journalist Tristen Taylor published a report through the Cape Town office of the Heinrich Böll Foundation assessing African nuclear ambitions. Taylor told DW that while vendors view Africa as a blue-sky market, success depends on whether governments can run transparent tenders, conclude contracts and create financing arrangements. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) supports countries preparing to develop nuclear programs, he noted.
Taylor’s analysis identified Egypt as having the strongest near-term prospect: Russia’s Rosatom began constructing the el-Dabaa plant on Egypt’s northern coast in 2022. In contrast, agreements signed by Sahel states such as Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso with Rosatom appear largely symbolic. Taylor said many countries sign nuclear accords for political backing rather than with realistic plans to build and operate reactors.
South Africa: Koeberg and new plans
Koeberg’s two reactors went online in the mid-1980s with French support during the apartheid era. The plant’s roughly 2,000 MW capacity supplies about 4% of South Africa’s electricity. In 2025 Koeberg’s operating licence was extended for another 20 years despite objections from environmental groups.
Francesca de Gasparis of the Southern African Faith Communities’ Environment Institute (SAFCEI) questioned whether Eskom, the state-owned utility that runs Koeberg, has met best-practice requirements for maintenance, testing and upgrades learned from past nuclear incidents. Critics say transparency has been insufficient and that some safety assessments rely on outdated data. Eskom has said it would respond to safety questions, but no full statement was available when the report was published.
Eskom is also preparing a larger project at Duynefontein near Cape Town — a proposed 4,000-MW facility — which has drawn criticism over planning transparency and safety assurances.
Ghana: conventional and small reactors
Ghana has engaged potential suppliers from France, China, South Korea, Russia and the United States, exploring both a conventional large reactor and Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). Construction has been suggested to start as early as 2027, but contract details remain unpublished.
Conventional reactors worldwide have tended to be one-off designs, each with distinct technical and safety challenges. Nuclear power’s levelised cost is generally higher than that of mature renewables such as wind, solar and hydropower, though proponents argue SMRs could reduce costs through standardisation and mass production — so far, however, only prototypes exist.
Kenya: ambitious timetable and local concerns
Kenyan President William Ruto announced plans for a 2,000-MW plant in Siaya on Lake Victoria’s shore, aiming for generation by 2034. Nuclear projects commonly encounter delays and cost overruns, and Kenya faces institutional hurdles: in early 2025 the cabinet moved to dissolve the National Nuclear Power and Energy Agency (NuPEA) as part of austerity measures, though Parliament had not ratified that decision at the time of reporting.
Local environmentalists warn of social and ecological impacts. Phyllis Omido, a Kenyan activist and Right Livelihood Award laureate, urged thorough studies of effects on fishing communities around Lake Victoria and warned about risks from transporting nuclear fuel across the country. Omido and the Center for Justice Governance and Environmental Action have long opposed proposals for a plant near Kilifi on the Indian Ocean coast.
Radioactive waste remains a major obstacle
Managing radioactive waste, which can remain hazardous for thousands of years, remains unresolved for many countries considering nuclear power. Communities and activists demand concrete, long-term solutions rather than assurances that waste will be buried near populated areas.
South Africa currently stores low- and intermediate-level waste at Vaalputs in the sparsely populated Northern Cape. High-level spent fuel remains stored on-site at Koeberg. The government has set a target to open a final repository by 2065, a timeline met with scepticism by activists and experts who warn that high-level waste disposal lacks an easy or easily accepted solution.
Conclusion
While a number of African states are exploring or signing up for nuclear energy, progress varies widely. Egypt’s el-Dabaa appears most advanced, South Africa is extending the life of its sole commercial plant while planning more capacity, and countries such as Ghana and Kenya contemplate a mix of large reactors and SMRs. Yet institutional capacity, financing, public acceptance, safety standards and the unresolved question of long-term waste management pose significant hurdles to an expanded African nuclear sector.
This article was originally published in German.