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Holtec and Rwanda advance plans to deploy SMR-300 nuclear reactors.
Rwanda is a nation in central Africa with a rather dark history, both of colonialism, extreme racial violence, not entirely connected with colonialism but rather with tribalism expressed as genocide, the story told in the movie Hotel Rwanda a movie which I have not seen.
Rwanda also sits on deposits of coltan - a conflict mineral exploited and mined with near (or total) human slavery, child labor, violence and severe health consequences. It is the mineral that is mined for cell phones (tantalum supercapacitors, rarely recycled) and the class of the most reliable batteries that many first world types like to use to declare themselves "green" and participants in an "energy transition," said "transition" being as real as bigfoot and the Loch Ness monster.
Now the good news:
Holtec and Rwanda advance plans to deploy SMR-300 nuclear reactors.
Holtec International and the Rwanda Atomic Energy Board have signed a development agreement to work together on the deployment of SMR-300 units. Meanwhile, as Rwanda hosts the Nuclear Energy Innovation Summit for Africa, it has signed a memorandum of understanding on civil nuclear cooperation with the USA.
Holtec’s Enterprise Unit Director Rafael Marin said: "Through this agreement, Holtec and the Rwanda Atomic Energy Board will work together to deploy SMR-300 units in Rwanda, with a potential total capacity of up to approximately 5 GW, supporting the country’s strategy to deploy reliable baseload power without carbon emissions which will serve as an engine for long-term economic growth in the nation. Holtec is proud to help navigate Rwanda transition to a nuclear power generator and to help position the country as a pioneer in the field of SMR (small modular reactor) deployment in Africa."
Jacob Helberg, US Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs, said: "We look forward to working with Rwanda and Holtec to bring this transformative SMR project to fruition, ensuring that American nuclear leadership continues to light the way forward for nations seeking to achieve their energy security and economic development goals."
The conference also saw the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the USA and Rwanda, which the US embassy in Rwanda said "marks an important step toward strengthening cooperation on civil nuclear energy and expanding opportunities for collaboration in support of reliable and secure energy development. The United States and Rwanda are committed to promoting the highest standards of nuclear safety, security and non-proliferation as the two countries advance this partnership"...
...Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Mariano Grossi delivered the agency's Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review (INIR) Phase 1 report during the first day (see picture above). The report, the Rwanda Atomic Energy Board said: "Affirms Rwanda’s readiness to advance to Phase 2 of its nuclear power programme development, reflecting continued commitment to building the infrastructure, regulatory capacity, human capital, and partnerships needed to deploy nuclear energy in support of long-term energy security, industrial growth, and sustainable socio-economic transformation."
Grossi, posting on the social media site X, said the IAEA and Rwanda had also signed an agreement which was an "important step forward for Rwanda’s nuclear energy plans ... to strengthen cooperation on integrating nuclear energy into Rwanda's energy mix, including SMRs. The agreement covers support on energy planning, infrastructure development, training, stakeholder engagement, financing and capacity building." He added: "Rwanda can count on the IAEA as it moves forward with its nuclear energy programme..."
Holtec’s Enterprise Unit Director Rafael Marin said: "Through this agreement, Holtec and the Rwanda Atomic Energy Board will work together to deploy SMR-300 units in Rwanda, with a potential total capacity of up to approximately 5 GW, supporting the country’s strategy to deploy reliable baseload power without carbon emissions which will serve as an engine for long-term economic growth in the nation. Holtec is proud to help navigate Rwanda transition to a nuclear power generator and to help position the country as a pioneer in the field of SMR (small modular reactor) deployment in Africa."
Jacob Helberg, US Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs, said: "We look forward to working with Rwanda and Holtec to bring this transformative SMR project to fruition, ensuring that American nuclear leadership continues to light the way forward for nations seeking to achieve their energy security and economic development goals."
The conference also saw the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the USA and Rwanda, which the US embassy in Rwanda said "marks an important step toward strengthening cooperation on civil nuclear energy and expanding opportunities for collaboration in support of reliable and secure energy development. The United States and Rwanda are committed to promoting the highest standards of nuclear safety, security and non-proliferation as the two countries advance this partnership"...
...Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Mariano Grossi delivered the agency's Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review (INIR) Phase 1 report during the first day (see picture above). The report, the Rwanda Atomic Energy Board said: "Affirms Rwanda’s readiness to advance to Phase 2 of its nuclear power programme development, reflecting continued commitment to building the infrastructure, regulatory capacity, human capital, and partnerships needed to deploy nuclear energy in support of long-term energy security, industrial growth, and sustainable socio-economic transformation."
Grossi, posting on the social media site X, said the IAEA and Rwanda had also signed an agreement which was an "important step forward for Rwanda’s nuclear energy plans ... to strengthen cooperation on integrating nuclear energy into Rwanda's energy mix, including SMRs. The agreement covers support on energy planning, infrastructure development, training, stakeholder engagement, financing and capacity building." He added: "Rwanda can count on the IAEA as it moves forward with its nuclear energy programme..."
I have long felt that as Africa strives toward higher living standards for its people - again, many of them now living in de facto slavery and dire poverty - that rather than following the path of India and China (and historically the United States for that matter) and raising living standards with the use of coal nuclear infrastructure would be superior.
This is a good start.