Rwanda and Russia have agreed to strengthen cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy, following talks between Foreign Affairs Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov.

The two leaders met on Saturday, April 18, on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Turkey.

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Among the key areas discussed was collaboration in nuclear energy, alongside trade, education and capacity building.

"Both sides reaffirmed commitment to deeper collaboration in multilateral forums, including the UN, to address global and regional challenges,” the Rwandan embassy in Russia said.

The government has increasingly framed nuclear technology as a practical and necessary solution to meet growing electricity demand.

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President Paul Kagame has repeatedly stressed that nuclear energy is both safe and feasible for developing countries, provided there are strong regulatory systems and international cooperation.

He says that global standards set by the International Atomic Energy Agency offer a clear framework that countries like Rwanda can follow.

Rwanda’s plans include deploying small modular reactors (SMRs), a new generation of nuclear technology suited to countries with smaller power grids.

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SMRs are seen as more flexible, cost-effective, and easier to integrate into existing systems, making them particularly attractive for African markets.

The country is targeting the development of nuclear power plants capable of producing about 110 megawatts within the next decade, part of a long-term plan to expand electricity generation capacity in line with Vision 2050 goals.

Momentum around nuclear energy is also expected to grow as Kigali prepares to host the 2026 Nuclear Energy Innovation Summit for Africa, a continental platform that will bring together policymakers, investors and industry leaders to address financing, regulation and workforce development challenges.