New report catalogues Africa’s nuclear energy ‘misadventure’

As global delegates gather in Germany for the Bonn Climate Conference (SB62), a new civil society report has raised alarm over the growing number of African nations pursuing nuclear energy as a solution to the climate crisis.Titled “The Alarming Rise of False Climate Solutions in Africa: The Nuclear Energy Misadventure”, the report is a collaborative effort by twelve organisations from Africa, Europe, and Russia. It warns that nuclear energy is ill-suited to address the continent’s energy poverty or urgent climate mitigation needs.Countries including Angola, Burkina Faso, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Rwanda and Uganda have all signalled intentions to develop nuclear power plants. South Africa remains the only African country with an operational nuclear power station, built in 1984 under apartheid.Campaigners argue this growing trend is dangerous and misguided.“The demand for a Just Transition to a post-carbon economy means it must be green, sustainable and socially inclusive,” writes Makoma Lekalakala, 2018 Goldman Prize winner for Africa. “This report lays out why nuclear energy is incompatible with those goals.”The report cites numerous concerns with nuclear energy, including high costs, lengthy construction timelines, radioactive waste, and vulnerability to both climate change and geopolitical instability.Billions for nukes; renewables ignoredThe authors criticise governments for planning billion-dollar nuclear projects when climate finance remains scarce. “Three-quarters of Africa’s climate finance needs are unmet,” the report notes, “and more than half of the funding that does exist is debt-based.”“The climate emergency has thrown a lifeline to the nuclear power industry,” said Alberta Kpeleku, Executive Director of 360 Human Rights in Ghana. “But from environmental disasters to health risks and security threats, Ghana must reject nuclear. There are far too many risks—nuclear accidents don’t only affect the present, but generations to come.”Across the continent, opposition is growing. Kenyan environmentalist and Goldman Prize laureate Phyllis Omido expressed solidarity with Ghanaian activists.“We believe in African solutions to African problems,” said Omido. “Nuclear energy means energy slavery for our people. Renewable energy is freedom - for our people and for our planet.”In Nigeria, executive director of Renevyln Initiative, Philip Jakpor, described the country’s nuclear ambitions as a “misadventure”.“Nigeria does not have the capacity to manage nuclear safely,” he warned. “We’ve seen what oil pipeline sabotage has done in the Niger Delta. A nuclear power station would become a terrorist target. You’d need military-grade security - possibly even provided by foreign powers.”Uganda’s expensive gambleIn Uganda, where half the population lacks access to electricity, government plans aim for over 99% electrification by 2030, powered in part by nuclear energy by 2031. Activists say this is unrealistic and dangerous.“We already have excess electricity generation,” said Sam Mucunguzi, executive director of Uganda Environment Action Now. “The problem is access, not supply. Nuclear would take a decade and cost more than a quarter of Uganda’s national budget. It’s fiscally reckless, especially for a heavily indebted country.”He added, “Uganda is already grappling with the impact of oil development. Adding nuclear to the mix will be disastrous. Clean options like solar, wind, and hydro are more viable.”The report also criticises what it calls a “well-funded global PR campaign” by the nuclear lobby, which it says has increasingly targeted African governments and UN climate forums.“Africa is becoming both a testing ground and a battleground for competing geopolitical interests in nuclear technology,” the report asserts, warning of undue influence from countries such as Russia and China.VulnerabilitiesVladimir Slivyak, co-chair of Russia’s Ecodefense group and a laureate of the Alternative Nobel Prize, echoed the warning.“Nuclear power is slow, expensive and dangerous,” he said. “It’s vulnerable to climate disasters and war. We’ve seen this with the Zaporozhye plant in Ukraine. Every nuclear facility is a potential radiation disaster and a proliferation risk.”Faith leaders have also weighed in, with Francesca de Gasparis of the Southern African Faith Communities’ Environment Institute dismissing nuclear as unnecessary and unwanted.“When you compare nuclear with other 21st-century energy sources, on cost, safety, build time and waste, it simply doesn’t add up,” she said.The report’s conclusion is unequivocal: nuclear power should have no place in Africa’s energy future. Instead, governments are urged to redirect funding toward truly clean and sustainable alternatives such as solar, wind, hydro and geothermal energy - resources of which Africa has in abundance.“It’s time to stop entertaining false solutions,” said Kpeleku. “Africa doesn’t need nuclear. We need investments in renewables that empower communities and protect the environment.”

New report catalogues Africa’s nuclear energy ‘misadventure’

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Republikein 2025-09-18

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New report catalogues Africa’s nuclear energy ‘misadventure’

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