Following the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with US-based start-up NANO Nuclear Energy Togolese President of Faure Essozimna Gnassingbe announced a decision to establish the Togo Atomic Energy Commission (TAEC) to be responsible for the promotion of peaceful and civil applications of nuclear science and technology.
Under the MOU, NANO Nuclear said it will collaborate with the Togolese government to advance the development and deployment of nuclear reactors, fuel facilities and nuclear material transportation within the territory of Togo. The collaboration aims to supplement Togo’s national energy initiatives with advanced nuclear technologies, including microreactors such as NANO Nuclear’s ZEUS and ODIN microreactors.
The Office of the Togo President noted that “the development of a legal and regulatory framework in line with international safety and security standards is essential to frame the development and operation of SMRs” It added: “International cooperation and the mobilisation of adequate funding will also play a key role in the realisation of this ambitious project.”
By exploring the potential of SMRs, “Togo affirms its will to resolutely commit itself to a sustainable and exemplary energy transition. Togo can, by meeting the challenges and seizing the opportunities offered by the SMRs, position itself as a model of responsible and inclusive energy development in West Africa”.
President Gnassingbe chaired the signing signing ceremony of the agreement for the production of’ electricity based on nuclear micro-reactors between Togo and NANO Nuclear. The documents were signed on the Togolese side by the Minister of Mines & Energy Resources, Robert Koffi Messan Eklo, and for NANO Nuclear by Ian Farnan, President of the UK Cambridge Nuclear Energy Centre, who is also Lead of Nuclear Fuel Cycle, Radiation and Materials at NANO Nuclear.
According to the President’s Office, Gnassingbe, “determined to meet the energy challenges and ensure universal access to reliable, affordable and sustainable energy … took the strategic decision to exploit the technological advances offered by SMRs”. The report added: “This innovative and promising technology presents itself as an ideal solution to strengthen Togo’s power generation capacity, thus meeting the country’s growing energy needs while minimising environmental impacts.”
Professor Farnan said micro-reactor systems are very well adapted to the situation in Togo where the demand for energy and electricity is changing rapidly. “It is therefore necessary to create a similar West Africa pool for Nano Nuclear Energy, and we hope that the signatures observed here today constitute an important step in this direction,” he noted.
In Togo, about 70% of the population benefits from access to electricity, mainly in urban centres. To meet the growing energy demand of populations and industrial companies, the diversification of energy sources is crucial. “In this regard, SMRs offer a scalable and progressive alternative that will not only meet the country’s growing energy demand, but also reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels,” the Office said. “Their integration into the Togolese energy mix could strengthen the country’s energy resilience while supporting economic growth and the creation of skilled jobs.”
To maximise the benefits of SMRs, “Togo plans to develop the skills necessary to master these advanced technologies and manage waste safely and responsibly”. Transparency and inclusion of local populations and stakeholders “will be essential to ensure optimal social acceptability of the project”.
NANO’s press release noted that the MOU “marks NANO Nuclear’s second such memorandum of understanding in Africa, building on its previously announced collaboration with the Rwanda Atomic Energy Board (RAEB) in August 2024”. Such collaborations “are part of NANO Nuclear’s strategy to be a global force for the future of clean, sustainable energy, particularly in emerging economies”.
Under the MOU, NANO Nuclear will be responsible for evaluating the specific regional needs for energy systems that can support remote mines, industries, data centres, towns, hospitals, and desalination plants throughout the country, without the need to connect to the national grid. In turn, the Togolese government will support NANO Nuclear’s licensing and implementation efforts in Togo, ensuring that the projects meet all international safety, non-proliferation and best practices.”
Dr Lassina Zerbo, Chairman of NANO Nuclear’s Executive Advisory Board for Africa said NANO Nuclear’s microreactors are being developed to ensure safe energy generation while avoiding the complexities and risks associated with larger, traditional nuclear plants. “Additionally, the collaboration seeks to empower Togo’s young minds and foster educational efforts to ensure that the people of Togo are involved in the installation and operation of these next-generation nuclear technologies.”
NANO Nuclear said it will look to expand its collaboration with the RAEB and the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) Next Einstein initiative to further expand the educational and vocational opportunities for young professionals throughout the continent of Africa. The company intends to set up a training course for nuclear physicists and engineers in collaboration with Cambridge University and the Togo Ministry of Education.
Professor Farnan said: “By sharing expertise and providing the necessary infrastructure as we develop our next generation technologies and solutions, we aim to improve quality of life and address critical energy challenges. Our world class nuclear technical teams are developing ZEUS and ODIN specifically to serve remote communities and power essential industries like mining, desalination, and agriculture.”
NANO Nuclear founded in 2022, has two products in technical development – a solid core battery reactor (ZEUS), and a low-pressure coolant reactor (ODIN). NANO’s subsidiaries include Advanced Fuel Transportation (AFT), HALEU Energy Fuel (HEF) and NANO Nuclear Space (NNS).
AFT aims to build a North American transportation company that will provide commercial quantities of HALEU fuel to SMRs, microreactor companies, national laboratories, military, and US Department of Energy (DOE) programmes. HEF is focusing on the future development of a domestic source for a high-assay, low-enriched uranium (HALEU) fuel fabrication pipeline for NANO Nuclear’s own microreactors as well as the broader advanced nuclear reactor industry. NNS is exploring the potential commercial applications of NANO Nuclear’s developing micronuclear reactor technology in space.
