Amid growing interest in nuclear power across Africa, Kenya hosted the continent’s historic first International Project on Innovative Nuclear Reactors and Fuel Cycles Dialogue Forum in Nairobi last month. Opportunities and challenges for countries considering nuclear power were explored at this major forum.
Newcomer Countries in Focus at 25th INPRO Dialogue Forum
Kenya’s Nuclear Power and Energy Agency (NuPEA) hosted the 25th INPRO Dialogue Forum in Nairobi. The programme featured plenary sessions on strategic planning, capacity building and stakeholder engagement, as well as presentations from newcomer countries on the status of their nuclear power programmes. (Photo: NuPEA)
The 25th INPRO Dialogue Forum gathered about 80 experts from 28 countries to discuss how best to support newcomer countries preparing to introduce nuclear power.
Projections for new nuclear power deployments continue to improve. Several operating countries plan to expand their programmes, while growing number of newcomers are exploring nuclear power to meet rising demand for clean energy.
Africa is home to many of these prospective operators. Egypt is currently building its first nuclear power plant, and more than a dozen other African countries are considering or preparing for nuclear power. The IAEA’s latest estimates have nuclear generating capacity in Africa tripling by 2030 in the high case scenario compared with 2024 capacity, with the same outlook predicting a sixteenfold increase by 2050.
“Embarking on a nuclear power programme is a complex, long-term commitment. It requires careful planning across multiple dimensions – from fuel cycle management to financing, from public communication to international cooperation,” said Mikhail Chudakov, Deputy Director General and Head of the IAEA’s Department of Nuclear Energy. “States with operating experience should continue to share their insights and lessons learned to help these newcomers navigate this journey successfully.”
Kenya Hosts Africa’s First INPRO Dialogue Forum
Established in 2000, INPRO support countries in strategic planning and cooperation on reactor technology development and fuel cycle approaches to help ensure the long-term viability of nuclear power.
Since the first Dialogue Forum was held in 2010, discussions have covered topics ranging from small modular reactors to non-electric applications to capacity building. INPRO also comprises support tools for energy planning and publications detailing the results of collaborative projects that look at national and interregional scenarios. The IAEA also organizes the INPRO School on Strategic Planning for Sustainable Nuclear Energy, a workshop that provides training on the INPRO Methodology along with analytical approaches and tools for the assessment and analysis of nuclear energy systems.
Kenya’s Nuclear Power and Energy Agency (NuPEA) hosted the five-day event in Nairobi. The programme featured plenary sessions on strategic planning, capacity building and stakeholder engagement, as well as presentations from newcomer countries on the status of their nuclear power programmes.
Participants then joined breakout sessions to share perspectives before d recommendations were presented during the closing session.
“The outcomes of this Forum will go beyond the discussions in this room,” said Justus Wabuyabo, Chief Executive Officer and National Liaison Officer of NuPEA. “The discussions in this Forum will inform future frameworks of cooperation, guide policy directions, and strengthen the capacity of newcomer countries to harness nuclear power safely and sustainably.”
Preparing for the Road Ahead
Participants provided several recommendations based on their discussions throughout the week. Some key recommendations included establishing comprehensive regional cooperation frameworks as well as forging strategic alliances with political and economic blocs to elevate nuclear energy on national and regional agendas.
They also emphasized the importance of targeted partnerships for the development and deployment of small modular reactors (SMRs), including guidance on near-term deployable reactor designs and innovative financing models. The participants also recommended improving stakeholder engagement and public communication through dedicated platforms for knowledge exchange and reviewing the Milestones Approach to ensure greater flexibility across diverse national contexts.
IAEA support to newcomers is based on the Milestones Approach – a phased method to assist countries considering the introduction of nuclear power. INPRO’s assistance is guided by the INPRO Methodology, a set of basic principles, user requirements and criteria, together with an assessment method for the evaluation of the long-term sustainability of a nuclear energy system. It covers six areas: environment, safety, proliferation resistance, waste management, infrastructure and economics.
Developing a long-term sustainable nuclear energy plan is an essential step in the Milestones Approach.
The next INPRO Dialogue Forum will take place in Bangkok, Thailand from 24 to 28 August 2026, with a focus on deployment of nuclear energy systems for applications beyond electricity.
