The workshop covered all major aspects of SMRs, including technology development and demonstration; legal frameworks; stakeholder engagement; and safety, security, and safeguard issues.
Participating in the IAEA event were 28 government and industry officials, policymakers, and managers from the African nations of Kenya, Ghana, Niger, Nigeria, Uganda, and Zambia.
Dohee Hahn, the IAEA’s SMR Platform coordinator, said that the “new IAEA SMR School aims to fill a critical gap for countries in better understanding the array of issues involved in the development and deployment of this promising new technology.”
Nuclear in Africa: The workshop highlighted the IAEA’s support for the ongoing expansion of nuclear energy infrastructure in Africa. For example, the agency is helping to support the ongoing construction of a power plant with four large nuclear reactors in Egypt and has been working with the government of South Africa as officials there consider adding capacity to the nation’s existing two-reactor nuclear energy program. At the present time, South Africa remains the only African nation with operating commercial nuclear reactors.
Several other African governments, including that of Kenya, have expressed interest in SMRs. Serah Esendi Okumu, acting CEO of the Nuclear Power and Energy Agency of Kenya, stated at the workshop, “As an embarking country, Kenya recognizes the critical role of SMRs in bridging gaps in clean and affordable energy access, supporting industrial growth, and complementing our renewable ambitions. This school serves as a catalyst, equipping our technical teams, regulators, and future leaders with the expertise required to navigate the complexities of nuclear technology deployment responsibly and efficiently.”
Positive reaction: The SMR School event received positive reactions from the participants. Rasheed Adeola Ogunola, from the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission, said, “The technical presentations, discussions, and shared experiences deepened our understanding of SMR deployment and regulatory considerations. We also appreciated learning about the publications and services available to support [IAEA] member states in building safe and effective nuclear programs. This knowledge will directly inform our next steps as we progress through the nuclear power program development milestones.”
Asia and Latin America: The IAEA has plans to hold subsequent SMR School workshops in Asia and Latin America. Thailand is scheduled to host a workshop on July 21–25 in Bangkok, with other participants coming from Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Estonia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mongolia, Saudi Arabia, and Uzbekistan. Argentina will host a workshop on August 25–29 in Buenos Aires, with other participants from Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Jamaica, Paraguay, and Peru.
