Rwanda eyes nuclear science centre by 2024

The Government of Rwanda says the planned centre for nuclear science and technology could be established by 2024 if all the technical and economic work goes as planned. Last month, the parliament approved the law ratifying the agreement between Rwanda and Russia on cooperation in the construction of the centre for nuclear science and technology on the Rwandan territory. This paves the way for the government to start the work aimed at establishing the centre. The Government will now start conducting a technical and economic feasibility study of the centre, according to the Ministry of Infrastructure. The key major outcomes of the feasibility study will include the detailed specifications of the intended laboratories, environmental impact assessment report, and respective costs breakdowns. That long process will also involve economic and financial analysis and a road map of the implementation of the project. “The objective is to have the Centre for Nuclear Science and Technology by 2024,” an emailed response from the Ministry read. “But of course, this will depend on the outcomes of the feasibility study results.” Rwanda and Russia entered agreement to establish the nuclear centre last year in October at the Russia-Africa Summit in Sochi. The centre would enable Rwanda to develop nuclear energy solutions that would advance several sectors of the country’s economy especially agriculture, health, education, sciences and industry. Rwanda chose six areas where such applications can be made including nuclear medicine, research reactor laboratory complex, and multipurpose radiation especially in agriculture, education, radiobiology, and material science. The Russian State-owned nuclear group ROSATOM is facilitating the government in the process of the establishment of the centre, which will be financed by the Rwandan government. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) requires member states that are intending to engage in nuclear energy development to have an institution responsible for nuclear energy use for peaceful purposes. The Government will, therefore, establish an independent institution responsible for the centre.

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Rwanda eyes nuclear science centre by 2024