Rwanda, Russian firm sign nuclear power plant framework agreement

Rwanda and Russia signed a framework agreement on Tuesday to develop a nuclear energy project using Small Modular Reactors (SMRs).

Russia’s state nuclear energy corporation Rosatom said the agreements follow remarks made in May by its director general, Alexey Likhachev, that Moscow and Kigali had already agreed to build a nuclear power plant.

The agreements were signed in Moscow following the first meeting of the Russia–Rwanda Joint Commission on nuclear energy cooperation.

The two sides discussed a planned nuclear energy project, the establishment of a Nuclear Science and Technology Center in Rwanda, the development of related infrastructure, training of Rwandan personnel, and legal and regulatory frameworks for the sector.

According to Dr. Lassina Zerbo, the President’s energy advisor and head of Rwanda’s nuclear energy agency, the country plans to expand its nuclear energy capacity to boost electricity supply by the early 2030s, aiming for self-sufficiency.

Kirill Komarov, First Deputy Director General of Rosatom, said efforts are now shifting from agreements to practical implementation.

He said: “From training national personnel and developing nuclear infrastructure to nuclear science projects and Small Modular Reactor (SMR) projects, Rwanda is building its nuclear programme in a steady and meaningful way, and Rosatom is ready to be a reliable partner at every stage of this journey.”

In an interview with Russian media outlet RT in 2025, Dr. Zerbo said SMRs could offer a more cost-effective alternative to traditional large nuclear power plants. He described them as a ‘plug-and-play’ option, meaning they can integrate with existing electricity grids and do not require major investment in grid upgrades.

Russia and Rwanda began cooperation in nuclear energy in 2018 after signing intergovernmental agreements on the peaceful use of nuclear energy. In 2019, the two sides agreed to build a Nuclear Science and Technology Center in Rwanda, including a 10-megawatt research reactor and a network of laboratories.

Rosatom has been expanding its operations in Africa, including the construction of the El Dabaa nuclear power plant in Egypt, the largest nuclear project on the continent.