Rwanda seals deal on nuclear power project

The government of Rwanda has sealed an agreement with Dual Fluid, a Canadian-German nuclear company for development of a nuclear power project.

The deal which is a step in diversifying the country’s energy sources and meeting its growing energy demands, entails construction of a demonstration Dual Fluid nuclear reactor slated to be to be operational by 2026.

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Dual Fluid’s technology

Following the construction of the demonstration reactor, testing of the Dual Fluid technology is expected to be completed by 2028. The Dual Fluid’s technology is based on liquid fuel and lead coolant and aims to improve the performance of nuclear power while reducing costs. The nuclear energy project is anticipated to contribute up to 300 MW of electricity to Rwanda’s grid, which will help address the country’s electricity access gap.

The Dual Fluid technology is said to have inherent safety design features that minimize the risk of accidents. It also produces relatively low amounts of radioactive waste, which will be managed in accordance with international radioactive waste safety standards. The Rwandan government is responsible for providing the site and infrastructure for the project, while Dual Fluid will handle the technical implementation.

Rwanda aims to close its electricity access gap, which currently stands at 30%, with a target of achieving universal access (52% on-grid and 48% off-grid) by the end of 2024. This nuclear energy project will play a role in working toward that goal. Approximately 44% of Rwanda’s energy sources are renewable, with a focus on hydro and solar power. The addition of nuclear energy will further diversify the country’s energy mix.