African countries are seriously considering adopting nuclear energy, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) director-general Yukiya Amano has confirmed, in reply to a question from Engineering News Online. “We are working with Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria.” The IAEA is, of course, also working with South Africa, which already has nuclear power but is currently planning to considerably expand its nuclear generating capacity.

“Other [African] countries are considering or preparing for nuclear,” he stated. “We have a milestone document. This provides guidance. We are recommending that they use it – it is also [a form of] assistance.” (The document is 'Milestones in the Development of a National Infrastructure for Nuclear Power'.)

“Nigeria is preparing [for nuclear power],” he reported. “The levels of progress are different [in different countries]. Egypt and Nigeria are quite advanced in Africa.” (Egypt and Nigeria already have operational research reactors – as do Algeria, Ghana, Morocco and South Africa, while Libya has a research reactor in temporary shutdown; the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s research reactors have been permanently shut down.)

At a function of the Institute for Security Studies on Friday, Amano observed that “African countries are very eager to use nuclear technology for development. African ambassadors frequently see me and ask me how they could use nuclear technology for development. South Africa can play a key role and is already playing an important role. South Africa is a recipient of technology but is also a donor of technology.”

Speaking of developing countries more generally, he noted to Engineering News Online that the “countries that embark on nuclear power give us their reasons. One of the reasons is to enhance economic competitiveness, development and energy security. Many countries believe nuclear power is economically competitive.”

He pointed out that the United Arab Emirates had started construction of a nuclear power plant while Belarus and Turkey had signed contracts. Jordan is one of the countries considering nuclear power – because the country has no indigenous sources of energy.

“We respect the decisions about nuclear power,” he affirmed. “If they want to embark on nuclear power, we want them to do it safely; 67 nuclear power plants are under construction [around the world]. By our calculations the production of electricity by nuclear [worldwide] will increase by 23% by low projection and 100% by high projection by 2030.”