She made the remarks on May 19, 2026, during the African Nuclear Energy Innovation Summit known as Nuclear Energy Innovation Summit for Africa 2026.
The summit, hosted in Rwanda from May 19 to 21, 2026, was organized for the second time in the country.
It was officially opened by President Kagame and attended by more than 1,200 participants, including heads of state and government officials such as President Samia Suluhu Hassan and Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé.
President Samia praised Kagame for championing the peaceful use of nuclear energy at a time when Africa remains behind in the sector.
South Africa is currently the only African country operating a nuclear power plant.
The country’s Koeberg Nuclear Power Station, located about 30 kilometers from Cape Town, has the capacity to generate 1.94 gigawatts of electricity, while many other African countries are still preparing similar projects.
Egypt is also advancing rapidly with the construction of its El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant in the northwestern part of the country. The facility is expected to produce 4.5 gigawatts of electricity.
Rwanda has spent the last decade preparing to build its own nuclear power plant before 2030, which President Samia said demonstrates Kagame’s leadership in the sector.
President Samia stressed that Africa’s economic development depends on access to clean, affordable, and sustainable energy sources.
She noted that Africa continues to expand in industrialization, mining, digital infrastructure, and other energy-intensive sectors, emphasizing that nuclear-generated electricity could provide a long-term solution.
“The first challenge is securing financing for these projects. I thank Rafael Mariano Grossi, who said the funding exists, but financing mechanisms must be adapted to African countries,” she said.
President Samia added that Africa needs innovative financing solutions and coordinated approaches to address challenges facing nuclear energy projects.
She also highlighted the importance of establishing strong regulatory institutions capable of overseeing nuclear facilities and ensuring public safety.
“The safe and peaceful use of nuclear technology requires strong oversight, highly skilled experts, effective security systems, and compliance with international regulations,” she said.
The Tanzanian leader emphasized the importance of public awareness campaigns so citizens can better understand nuclear energy rather than continue associating it only with destruction.
“Africans should understand both the opportunities and responsibilities that come with nuclear energy development,” she stated.
She said African cooperation would be essential in ensuring the success of nuclear energy initiatives in the future and again thanked President Kagame for his efforts.
“Thank you, President Kagame, for your commitment to promoting cooperation in Africa’s nuclear energy agenda,” she said.
President Samia also explained that Tanzania is beginning its own nuclear energy journey and hopes to learn from other countries developing the sector.
“Nuclear energy should not be viewed as competing with renewable energy sources. Instead, it complements broader efforts to promote reliable, clean, and sustainable energy systems capable of driving Africa’s industrial growth,” she said.
She called on African countries to cooperate in improving the sector by attracting investment, strengthening institutions, and building the technical capacity needed for the continent’s development.
President Samia further explained that Tanzania currently generates around 4,500 megawatts of electricity but is expected to require nearly 8,000 megawatts by 2030 and up to 70,000 megawatts by 2050.
“That is why Tanzania is also accelerating plans to integrate nuclear energy into our long-term development strategy so it can complement existing energy sources in supporting economic growth,” she said.
