- The UN ECA urged African countries to adopt nuclear energy to solve power poverty and provide electricity to over 600 million people.
- It proposed creating an African Nuclear Alliance and developing national roadmaps to boost investment and meet AfCFTA’s rising energy demand.
The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) has urged African countries to adopt nuclear energy as a viable solution to the continent’s worsening electricity deficit. It calls for bold action to end what it describes as “power poverty.”
In a statement on Saturday, June 28, Claver Gatete, ECA Executive Secretary, said it was unacceptable that over 600 million Africans still live without access to electricity. He warned that energy insecurity continues under the continent’s industrialisation, health systems, and economic transformation.
“Africa accounts for 17% of the global population but generates less than 3% of the world’s electricity,” Gatete said. “Bridging this gap requires bold decisions, including exploring nuclear energy as a reliable, long-term power solution.”
He stressed that while investment in renewables must continue, nuclear power should also be developed to unlock Africa’s full potential.
Drawing on global examples, Gatete pointed to South Korea and France, which have successfully scaled nuclear power to support industrial growth and cut emissions. He also referenced South Africa’s Koeberg plant, the continent’s only operational nuclear facility, as proof that nuclear energy can work in Africa.
Highlighting progress on the continent, Gatete cited Egypt’s El Dabaa plant and Ghana’s collaboration with NuScale Power on Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) as early steps in the right direction. “The time is now to move from potential to action,” he said.
Addressing safety and environmental concerns, Gatete emphasised that modern reactor designs are safer, more efficient, and environmentally sound. He noted that nuclear power has the lowest fatality rate per kilowatt-hour among all primary energy sources and boasts a 90% capacity factor with a lifespan of over 40 years.
Furthermore, he linked nuclear energy development to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), estimating that electricity demand will surge by 40% by 2030, requiring over $22 billion in investment between 2025 and 2040.
He proposed creating an African Nuclear Alliance to facilitate regional cooperation, coordinate technology transfer, and leverage existing continental power pools such as those in Southern and East Africa to drive progress.
He further urged governments to adopt public-private partnerships, build national nuclear roadmaps with clear timelines, and learn from successful renewable energy procurement models across the continent.
“Africa cannot afford to crawl its way out of energy insecurity,” Gatete said. “Nuclear energy is safe, reliable, and essential for a second industrialised future.”