The Rwanda Atomic Energy Board (RAEB) has signed a deal with US company Nano Nuclear Energy for the possible deployment of small modular reactors (SMRs) and microreactors. An RAEB statement said the arrangement aims to support Rwanda’s energy requirements in a more sustainable and safe manner.
RAEB CEO Fidele Ndahayo said: “Small modular reactor technologies are now being developed and Rwanda wishes to be part of the development process. This will put us in a good position to embrace the technology when it will be available on the market.”
Under the agreement, Nano Energy will provide technical assistance, training, and education programmes to increase the number of domestic nuclear energy personnel in Rwanda.
James Walker, Nano Energy CEO said the agreement “marks the beginning of a much deeper and longer partnership to develop Rwanda’s enormous potential”.
In September 2023, RAEB signed an agreement with Canadian-German nuclear technology start-up Dual Fluid Energy to collaborate on the development in Rwanda of a demonstration Dual Fluid reactor. The demonstration reactor was expected to be operational by 2026 with subsequent testing of the Dual Fluid technology to be completed by 2028. The Government of Rwanda agreed to provide the site and infrastructure for the project.
At present Rwanda has an installed electricity generation capacity of 332.6 MWe, most of which is from hydropower dams and the rest from methane, solar and peat. In 2020, Russia agreed to construct a Centre for Nuclear Science & Technology for Rwanda, which would include a research reactor and supporting laboratories. The first 50 Rwandan students are currently studying in Russia for nuclear related degrees.
