Rwandan President Paul Kagame has identified nuclear power as a central component of the country’s long-term development agenda under Vision 2050, calling for stronger global cooperation in financing and technology.
Speaking in Paris at the opening of the second Nuclear Energy Summit on Tuesday, March 10, Kagame said Rwanda requires a reliable and abundant electricity supply to support its ambition of becoming a high-income country by 2050.
He explained that nuclear energy would diversify Rwanda’s energy mix while ensuring the stability needed for industrialisation and long-term economic transformation.
Kagame noted that Rwanda has already trained hundreds of citizens in nuclear science and engineering through partnerships with global institutions, positioning the country to adopt emerging nuclear technologies.
He also highlighted the potential of Small Modular Reactors, saying the systems are well suited to countries with smaller electricity grids and could make Africa a key market in the coming years.
The summit, attended by leaders including Emmanuel Macron and Rafael Grossi, brought together representatives from more than 60 countries to discuss the role of civil nuclear energy in global development.