New Energy
US Sees a Role for Nuclear Technology in Africa’s Energy Shift
- America says it’s discussing cooperation with Kenya and Ghana
- Russia’s Rosatom also promoting its reactors on the continent
The core module of a small modular reactor in August 2023.
Photographer: Luo Yunfei/China News Service/VCG/Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
The US sees a role for its nuclear technology in Africa’s energy transition, saying small modular reactors can help the continent cut emissions while adding flexible generation capacity more quickly than large atomic plants.
SMRs are drawing the attention of policymakers around the world since they can be mass-produced for assembly in various locations, reducing the time for construction and installation. Yet most are still in the design stage, and costs have recently been driven up by soaring inflation and rising interest rates.