SAIIA’s ‘Atoms 4 Development Project’ focuses on the nexus between nuclear security in securing global peace and the peaceful use of nuclear technology in catalysing development towards Africa’s achievement of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals and the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
17 African states have already expressed interest in nuclear energy: some have active nuclear research and development programmes, while others are investigating the possibility of a nuclear build. For the time being, South Africa has the continent’s only operational nuclear power plant, but this will change in the near future. Egypt is closely following in its footsteps and is expected to build a power plant over the next decade.
Nuclear power is therefore expected to play an increasingly important role in improving energy supply and security and mitigating climate change on the African continent. Nuclear materials produce radioactive waste, which needs to be carefully managed to prevent negative outcomes on people and the environment. Safety and security of new and existing nuclear programmes, as well as nuclear waste products, is paramount.
Against this background, this webinar will focus on the governance of nuclear energy in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and at the continental level. It will also examine the financing of nuclear projects in Africa, and the role of vendor countries, which assist with both loans and technological know-how for these large-scale projects. Finally, this webinar will also look at the role nuclear energy can play in Africa’s agriculture and health sectors.
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