The Republic of Zimbabwe confirmed, through its participation in the World Economic Forum in Davos, that the African continent is facing a decisive turning point in the energy issue, and that traditional solutions are no longer sufficient to keep pace with industrialization and development ambitions, especially in light of the escalating climate challenges. This came during the participation of Professor Dr. Aman Murwira in a high-level panel discussion on the future of nuclear energy in Africa, where he stressed that the ambition towards an industrial African continent can only be achieved with sufficient capacity to produce energy reliably and in large quantities.
Dr. Murwira pointed out the fragility of dependence on hydropower in South Africa, pointing out that countries such as Zimbabwe and Zambia have historically relied on hydroelectric power, but repeated droughts during the past five years have led to a decline in production to about 9% of installed capacity. With climate forecasts indicating that drought will occur every 5 to 10 years, hydropower alone is no longer able to ensure the stability of national electricity systems.
In this context, the minister said that the outlook towards nuclear energy has begun to change from reservation to recognition of the necessity of including it among the strategic options. Egypt is building its first nuclear plant, and South Africa is extending the life of its current plants and plans to increase their capabilities, and more than a dozen African countries are laying the foundations for nuclear programs. He added that Africa possesses about 14% of the known global resources of uranium, which enhances the continent’s importance in this field. However, Dr. Murwira warned that developing nuclear energy is not a quick or simple matter, stressing that the success of any nuclear program depends on two basic pillars: human resources and infrastructure.
He added that a nuclear program, even if it is small, requires 50 to 100 highly trained scientists and engineers, in addition to long-term investments in education, regulation, electricity networks and waste management. He also noted that technological innovation opens new horizons, noting that small and mobile reactors provide more flexible and scalable solutions, better suited to African electricity networks, with lower initial costs and lower financial risks.
He explained that the support from the International Atomic Energy Agency and the cooperation of global financial institutions makes the future of nuclear energy in Africa more realistic, stressing that nuclear energy may not be a “magic solution,” but it may be the decisive factor that opens the door to industrial transformation on the continent. Dr. Murwira concluded by saying that the question is no longer about whether Africa will consider nuclear energy, but rather about how to develop it responsibly, safely and comprehensively, to ensure a sustainable industrial future for the continent.
