The Southern African region has been largely dominated by South Africa’s economic and cultural weight. The region has taken steps to ensure greater regional integration in terms of economic growth, resource management, and social service provision.

Within the region, South Africa is the sole country with a research reactor. The SAFARI-1 reactor was built in 1961 with a licensed operating power of 20 MW. Recent evaluations have indicated that an expected operational lifetime beyond 2025 is realistic. Nevertheless, improvement projects such as an ageing management programme to upgrade various reactor structures, systems, and components will enable an extension of the reactor’s life up to 2030.

Zambia will soon commence building the Centre for Nuclear Science and Technology (CNST) in Chongwe, east of Zambia’s capital city, Lusaka. The phased construction of CNST includes a Multipurpose Radiation Centre.

Finally, The Namibian government has made it clear that it plans to leverage its large uranium deposits, which constitute about 7 percent of global reserves, to produce electricity from nuclear energy technology.

In 2018, real GDP in East Africa grew by an estimated 5.7 percent, slightly less than the 5.9 percent in 2017 and the highest among the African regions. In both Ethiopia and Rwanda, real GDP growth has been driven by industry and services. The service sector has also been the main driver of growth in Tanzania and Kenya.

Though there is no nuclear research reactor operating in the region, many East African countries are pursuing the establishment of such reactors.

Kenya is currently in the first phase of research reactor project implementation and plans to commission its first research reactor between 2025 to 2028.

Rwanda is considering setting up a Centre for Nuclear Science and Technology (CNST) in the next five years. The critical focus is on how both soft and physical infrastructure can be set up to pave the way for nuclear energy development.

Tanzania also conducted a pre-feasibility study for a potential research reactor project and has concluded that it could be a highly useful contributor to the country’s scientific resources, healthcare, and industrial and agricultural productivity. Following this pre-feasibility study, extensive evaluations will be conducted in order to raise awareness of the implications of a research reactor project. Several possible options for applications thereafter depend on the stakeholders’ needs and availability of funds.

Finally, in its 2041 vision to become a middle-income country, the president of Uganda issued a directive that nuclear energy would play a key role in achieving that goal. Therefore, a nuclear research reactor might be the first step in implementing a nuclear energy programme.

West Africa is experiencing one of the most active GDP growths in the last few years. The region as a whole has seen an average annual growth of 6-7% and its economic and social conditions are constantly improving. The majority of West African countries have rich soil composed of oil, gold, and uranium.

Regarding nuclear activities, many countries have nuclear research reactors and envision implementing nuclear power plants (E.g. Nigeria and Ghana). Other countries such as Niger, Cote D’ivoire and Senegal are also active in the nuclear field.

In 2018, Senegal established a technical cooperation project with the IAEA entitled ‘Developing a National Nuclear Infrastructure for Establishing a Research Reactor’ in order to develop regulations and prerequisites for establishing a nuclear reactor and power plant.

Similarly, in addition to an existing research reactor, Nigeria has embarked on the development of a multipurpose research reactor project to meet national requirements, and has conducted a preliminary feasibility study.

In Ghana, the GHARR-1 research reactor is currently being utilized to support oil and aluminum manufacturing industries, research institutions, universities, governmental regulatory agencies,nongovernmental organizations and individuals.

The Maghreb is a region with an estimated population of 100 million and rich in oil, gas, agricultural products, and tourism. In 2019, estimated GDP of all Maghreb countries amounted to approximately $1,210.5 billion

In terms of nuclear energy, both Morocco and Algeria have research reactors in place: Morocco has a TRIGA Mark II research reactor that currently offers a maximum thermal power level of 2 MW but will be upgraded to 3 MW in the future; Algeria possess two reactors: a multipurpose heavy water research reactor of 15 MW called Es-salam and a 1 MW reactor named Nur.

Tunisia is planning to install a subcritical assembly to aid in development of applied research in the nuclear field and as part of their preparations to implement a nuclear energy programme.

Mauritania is similarly looking to expand nuclear energy and could leverage on its uranium supply to establish a research reactor. Currently, Mauritania has completed its definitive feasibility study for the Tiris uranium project and concluded that it possesses both a very low capital development cost and operating cost.