Originally published in Semafor, October 27, 2025.
With Africa’s energy demand projected to double by 2040, more countries on the continent are turning to nuclear power — whether they are ready for it or not. South Africa already runs one reactor. Egypt’s first is under construction. Other governments are signing nuclear cooperation agreements with Russia, China, and the United States. The World Bank’s removal of its nuclear ban in June will only accelerate this trend.
Yet, Africa’s nuclear reality remains mostly aspirational. As Sidi Ould Tah takes over as the new president of the African Development Bank, he could change that by transforming the AfDB into a source of sober guidance and catalytic support, not hype. But first, the bank must lift its own decades-old ban on nuclear funding and carve out a niche where it can add real value.
Nuclear energy’s appeal is clear for Africa: a firm source of clean, reliable baseload power that can drive industrialization and grid stability. Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda are already investing in nuclear research and planning. But many others are chasing unrealistic nuclear visions. Here the AfDB could play the role of truth-teller, helping its members distinguish between credible, fit-for-purpose nuclear ambitions and fantasy.
Read the full piece here.