Africa Nuclear Tracker Counts 20 Countries and 15 GW Under Consideration
An open source dataset tracks civilian nuclear programs in 20 African countries, with one reactor fleet operating, one plant under construction, seven countries preparing and ten exploring, according to Neutron Bytes. Across those programs, 15 GW of new nuclear capacity is being explored for construction.
Construction is concentrated at Egypt's El Dabaa site on the Mediterranean coast, where four VVER-1200 units are being supplied by Rosatom, Neutron Bytes reported. The units rest on a 2015 intergovernmental agreement backed by a Russian state loan facility of roughly USD 25 billion. First concrete was poured in July 2022, and Neutron Bytes reports Unit 1 is targeted for grid connection around 2028, with all four units following by about 2030.
South Africa carries the continent's only operating capacity and the largest approved build. The government approved Integrated Resource Plan 2025 in October 2025, calling for 5,200 MW of new nuclear capacity by 2039 and an initial 1,200 MW targeted for 2036, according to Neutron Bytes. The existing fleet gained runway a month later: the regulator extended Koeberg Unit 2's operating licence to 2045 in November 2025.
Kenya set a schedule in March 2026, announcing a target of first nuclear generation by 2034 with roughly 2,000 MW of capacity planned, Neutron Bytes reported.
Zambia's interest follows a supply shock rather than a long-standing programme. A severe drought exposed the extent of the country's dependence on hydro, and in 2025 the government said it would evaluate about 1 GW of nuclear for baseload, according to Neutron Bytes.
Source: neutronbytes.com (opens in a new tab)1 sourcePermalink