Nuclear Power in the Global South: An Expert View on Accelerated Reactor Development

By Ugo Aliogo

As climate change accelerates and the global demand for clean energy intensifies, nuclear power has re-emerged as a cornerstone of sustainable development. While advanced economies such as the United States, Canada, and China are pioneering breakthroughs in reactor technologies, the Global South—particularly Africa—faces both opportunities and hurdles in adapting these lessons to local realities.

To understand the opportunities and challenges, we spoke with Dr. Solomon Bello, a Nigerian-born nuclear engineer with extraordinary international experience. His career spans Nigeria, China, and Canada, combining reactor research, safety system design, and large-scale project execution. In Canada, he has been part of the Bruce Power Major Components Replacement Project, the country’s largest clean energy infrastructure initiative valued at over 13 billion Canadian dollars. In China, he completed his doctorate in Nuclear Energy Systems at Harbin Engineering University, where he focused on reactor safety and natural circulation analysis. In Nigeria, he served as Senior Engineer at the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission, contributing to the operation of the Miniature Neutron Source Reactor and Gamma Irradiation Facilities. Recognized with fellowships and grants from the International Atomic Energy Agency, the China Atomic Energy Authority, and Canada’s University Network of Excellence in Nuclear Engineering, Bello is one of the few African experts who has worked within three of the world’s major nuclear ecosystems.

The United States offers the first lesson. With 93 operational reactors producing about 18 percent of its total electricity in 2023, it continues to rely on nuclear power as a stable clean energy source. Yet the real innovation lies in its move toward small modular reactors, or SMRs, which promise to cut upfront capital costs by as much as 30 percent while requiring less water and shorter construction times. None are yet in commercial use, but by 2035 the Department of Energy projects that at least half a dozen will be deployed. Bello points out that these modular units could be ideally suited for African countries, especially Nigeria, where national grids are weak and construction financing is limited. “SMRs are a game-changer,” he says. “They reduce upfront capital, require less water, and can be integrated into smaller grids—conditions that match Africa’s infrastructure realities.”

Canada provides a second important model. Although nuclear accounts for only about 15 percent of the country’s electricity overall, in Ontario it supplies more than 60 percent. Canada’s nuclear sector is dominated by CANDU reactors, prized for their use of natural uranium and ability to recycle fuel. Rather than focusing on new builds, Canada has invested heavily in life extension projects. The Bruce Power Major Components Replacement Project alone represents the largest clean energy infrastructure project in Canadian history, expected to extend reactor life by up to four decades. Bello, who is directly involved in the project, stresses the importance of this approach for Africa: “Canada’s success lies not only in building reactors but in maintaining them. Africa cannot afford to abandon plants after commissioning—longevity and safety culture must be embedded from day one.”

China provides a contrasting story of rapid expansion. Already operating 55 reactors and constructing another 22, it now generates nearly five percent of its electricity from nuclear power, with projections that this share will reach ten percent by 2035. A defining feature of its program is the Hualong One reactor, an indigenous design that marks China’s shift from reliance on foreign suppliers to technological independence. Bello, reflecting on his doctoral years in China, attributes the country’s success to its ability to combine aggressive state policy with massive investments in education and research. “China’s secret is simple,” he says. “They don’t just build reactors; they build schools, research labs, and talent pipelines. Africa must learn from this if it hopes to achieve sustainability in nuclear development.”

In Africa, progress remains limited. South Africa is the only country currently operating a commercial nuclear power station, Koeberg, which contributes about five percent of national electricity but is facing aging infrastructure challenges. Nigeria has advanced research capacity through the Miniature Neutron Source Reactor and irradiation facilities managed by the Atomic Energy Commission, but it still lacks a commercial plant. Egypt has begun construction of the El Dabaa nuclear power plant with a planned capacity of 4,800 megawatts, though financing and geopolitical delays have slowed progress. The region’s main obstacles are consistent: nuclear power plants typically require five to ten billion dollars per gigawatt in capital expenditure, far beyond the reach of many African budgets. Across sub-Saharan Africa there are fewer than 500 nuclear engineers actively working, a number insufficient to sustain large-scale reactor programs. Policy inconsistency, where projects stall or collapse under shifting government priorities, further undermines momentum.

Bello argues that Nigeria and its neighbors must learn from the approaches of advanced economies rather than attempt to reinvent nuclear development from scratch. From the United States, Africa can adopt small modular reactors that are affordable and adaptable to local grid conditions. From Canada, the lesson is that long-term operation and maintenance is just as important as commissioning new facilities. From China, the continent must recognize the necessity of building human capital at scale through scholarships, training, and indigenous research centers.

At the same time, Bello warns against becoming passive consumers of imported technologies. “Africa must not become a dumping ground for outdated technologies,” he cautions. “It must participate in design, research, and regulation. Otherwise, we will forever depend on foreign expertise.” He also notes that no single African nation may be able to sustain a complete nuclear program on its own, suggesting regional cooperation under African Union frameworks to create a continental nuclear research hub.

The accelerated development of nuclear reactors in the Global South is not merely desirable, it is necessary. Lessons from the U.S., Canada, and China show that innovation, maintenance culture, and human capital investment are the pillars of success. For Nigeria, the choice is whether to embrace these lessons with consistent political will, strategic financing, and regional collaboration, or risk lagging behind in the global energy transition. As Bello concludes, “Africa does not need to reinvent the wheel. It needs to learn how to roll it effectively—and then design its own wheels for future generations.”