Kigali: President Samia Suluhu Hassan has described the Nuclear Energy Innovation Summit for Africa (NEISA 2026) in Kigali as a critical platform for translating Africa’s energy ambitions into practical, investable solutions. She emphasized that the continent must move decisively from policy discussions to real implementation.
Addressing Heads of State, policymakers, and global energy stakeholders, President Samia said Africa’s economic transformation depends on reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy systems. She noted that sectors such as industrialization, mining, manufacturing, transport modernization, and digital infrastructure all require stable power to thrive.
She called for stronger collaboration among African nations, development finance institutions, and the private sector to create enabling environments for energy investments. According to the President, building institutional capacity and technical expertise is essential for long-term energy transformation across the continent.
Highlighting Tanzania’s growing energy needs, President Samia said electricity demand continues to rise in line with development priorities under Tanzania Development Vision 2050. This growth is driven by rapid urbanization, industrial expansion, mining activities, and increasing digital infrastructure demands.
While noting Tanzania’s investments in hydropower, natural gas, renewables, and regional interconnections, she stressed the importance of diversifying energy sources. She said the country is exploring nuclear energy, particularly emerging technologies like Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and Micro Modular Reactors (MMRs), as flexible and scalable solutions.
President Samia underscored that financing, regulatory readiness, public awareness, and regional cooperation remain key challenges. She reiterated that nuclear energy should complement—not compete with—renewable energy, forming part of a broader strategy to build resilient, sustainable, and reliable power systems for Africa’s long-term development.