Powering Africa׳s sustainable development: The potential role of nuclear energy

• We examine the potential role of nuclear power in Africa.
• There is growing African interest in nuclear power.
• Nuclear power in Africa will require grid strengthening.
• Small modular reactors could enhance Africa׳s energy security.
• There are concerns about Africa׳s safety culture for nuclear power.

The electricity deficit is one of the most serious contemporary issues facing sub-Saharan Africa. Many countries in the region have insufficient generation capacity to meet rapidly rising demand. Electricity shortages have become a binding and powerful constraint on the continent׳s sustainable development. Their resolution will require coordinated effort to improve the effectiveness and governance of the region׳s utilities and to significantly scale-up generation capacity. A broad portfolio of low carbon (low-C) technologies needs to be deployed in order to address the electricity deficit in a cost-effective way and not be disruptive to economic growth. Since nuclear power can deliver low-C electricity in bulk, reliably and without intermittency, it could make a significant contribution towards resolving Africa׳s power crisis. However, the post-Fukushima safety concerns related to large nuclear plants with substantial radioactive inventories will be especially pronounced in Africa. Moreover, large scale reactors with huge upfront investment requirements are likely to be unsuitable for capital-constrained African countries with small electricity grids. One promising direction for nuclear development in Africa might be to downsize reactors from the gigawatt scale to less-complex smaller units (with substantially smaller radioactive inventory) that are more affordable.