Nuclear energy has the potential to help power millions of Africans who still lack access to electricity, Loyiso Tyabashe, Chief Executive Officer of the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (NECSA), has said. He was speaking during the Africa CEO Forum, which concluded in Kigali yesterday. Tyabashe emphasized that expanding energy access must remain one of Africa’s top development priorities, underscoring the need for the continent to invest in nuclear technologies and the skills required to support them. “Developed countries are moving forward with this technology. All you need is the right skills, the right regulatory framework, and the right oversight structures,” he said. “Once you have those in place, you are very well positioned to run a successful nuclear program,” he added. Globally, more than 400 nuclear reactors are currently in operation producing energy. “South Africa has two, located in Cape Town. Egypt is building four, and there are many more being discussed,” Tyabashe said. In comparison, the United States alone operates close to 100 nuclear reactors. Speaking on Africa’s energy future, Tyabashe called for solutions tailored to the continent’s realities and development needs. “We need to domesticate our own problems and solve them with deliberate action,” he said. “Africa’s biggest challenge is energy security. About 600 million people on the continent still do not have access to electricity.” He noted that Africa’s young population presents an opportunity to build the skills needed to support the growth of the nuclear energy sector. According to Tyabashe, several African countries are already investing in nuclear-related training and infrastructure development, including Rwanda, Ghana, Kenya, and Egypt.
