In a significant move aimed at reducing reliance on fossil fuels, the Rwandan government has inked an agreement with a German-Canadian startup, Dual Fluid Energy, to embark on the construction of an experimental civil nuclear reactor.
Dual Fluid Energy, the entity tasked with building this innovative nuclear reactor, has projected that it will be ready for testing by the year 2026. According to Gotz Ruprecht, CEO of Dual Fluid Energy, these reactors possess the versatility to generate electricity, produce hydrogen, and synthesise fuels, all at a lower cost compared to conventional fossil fuels. Ruprecht shared this insight during a press conference held in Kigali.
Ernest Nsabimama, Rwanda’s Infrastructure Minister, emphasized that the adoption of nuclear power will serve as a stable and reliable source of electricity, strategically reducing the nation’s dependence on hydrocarbons while satisfying the escalating energy demand.
It’s worth noting that Rwanda previously entered into a 2019 agreement with Russia’s Federal Atomic Energy Agency, Rosatom to collaborate on the construction of nuclear power plants. However, this move faced substantial opposition, primarily due to security concerns.
Frank Habineza, the leader of the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda, a major opposition party, expressed reservations about the nuclear reactor partnership with Dual Fluid Energy, characterising it as dangerous. He drew parallels between this development and the previous collaboration with Russia, stating, “There is no big difference between what Dual Fluid Energy wants to do and what Russia and the Rwandan government wanted to do in 2019.”
Habineza voiced his apprehension regarding the safety of establishing a nuclear reactor or nuclear power plant in the country, asserting, “No study can convince me that there is a place in this country where a reactor or a nuclear power plant can be built without endangering the population.”
In response to concerns over environmental safety, the Rwanda Atomic Energy Office and Dual Fluid Energy issued a joint press release to allay fears. They clarified that their test Nuclear reactor is a compact device characterised by low combustion and minimal nuclear material, thus posing no environmental threat.
As of now, South Africa remains the sole African nation with an established civil nuclear programme, boasting two reactors in operation for over three decades.