{"id":120583,"date":"2026-02-25T15:47:40","date_gmt":"2026-02-25T15:47:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/all-news\/rwandan-industries-could-benefit-from-nuclear-power-projects"},"modified":"2026-02-25T16:38:45","modified_gmt":"2026-02-25T16:38:45","slug":"rwandan-industries-could-benefit-from-nuclear-power-projects","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/economy\/rwandan-industries-could-benefit-from-nuclear-power-projects","title":{"rendered":"Rwandan industries could benefit from nuclear power projects"},"content":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Rwanda. <\/strong><\/span>Rwandan industries could secure contracts in upcoming nuclear power projects, as the government moves to integrate domestic firms into the country\u2019s nuclear value chain.<\/p>\n

This was highlighted on Tuesday, February 24, during an awareness-raising workshop on industrial participation in the country\u2019s nuclear power project, convened by the Rwanda Atomic Energy Board (RAEB) in collaboration with the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MINICOM) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA).<\/p>\n

RAEB Chief Executive Fidele Ndahayo said the nuclear programme is designed to strengthen domestic industries beyond energy production.<\/p>\n

He said a well-designed nuclear programme could accelerate industrial growth, technological advancement, and private sector expansion.<\/p>\n

RAEB Chief Executive Fidele Ndahayo said the nuclear programme is designed to strengthen domestic industries beyond energy production.<\/p>\n

Drawing lessons from global experiences, he noted that industrial localisation is a deliberate policy objective in countries with successful nuclear programmes.<\/p>\n

\u201cIndustrial localisation means ensuring that domestic firms, SMEs, engineers, technicians, and service providers participate meaningfully across the nuclear value chain, from construction and civil works to logistics, manufacturing, engineering services, and long-term operations,\u201d Ndahayo said.<\/p>\n

Preliminary assessments by RAEB indicate that the private sector already has strengths in construction, civil engineering, manufacturing, transport and logistics, as well as professional and technical services.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat remains limited, however, is awareness of nuclear supply chain requirements, particularly safety, quality management systems, certification standards, and regulatory compliance,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

He further noted that small modular reactors (SMRs), which Rwanda is exploring, offer local companies opportunities in construction, installation, and long-term maintenance, provided they build capacity and meet international standards.<\/p>\n

According to Antoine Kajangwe, the Permanent Secretary at MINICOM, one of the biggest challenges for Rwanda\u2019s industrial competitiveness today is the high cost of electricity and unreliable supply.<\/p>\n

Antoine Kajangwe, the Permanent Secretary at MINICOM, speaks at the event.<\/p>\n

\u201cBeing able to set up small modular nuclear reactors can add significant electricity to the national grid, making power more available and ideally more affordable,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Kajangwe added that local industries could also support the nuclear programme by providing materials and services, from construction and civil works to mechanical works.<\/p>\n

Andrew Mold, Director of the Subregional Office for Eastern Africa at UNECA, said that manufacturing currently accounts for only 8\u20139 per cent of Rwanda\u2019s GDP, with around 60 percent of industrial output in food and beverages.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe project on having an SMR reactor here could catalyse the development of the industrial sector and make it stronger and more diverse than it currently is,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Mold added that localisation is key to maximising benefits, allowing industries to provide value-added services for the nuclear project, from cabling to cement production.<\/p>\n

Joel Mbabazi, Head of the Industry Cluster at the Private Sector Federation (PSF), said industries have long struggled with high electricity costs, particularly during peak hours between 5pm and 11pm when tariffs were even higher.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut once this nuclear power plant becomes operational, many things are expected to change in our production processes and we believe electricity will become more affordable, especially considering that Rwanda currently has some of the highest electricity prices in the region,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\r\n