- Philanthropy Giants Focus on Africa in Support of Nuclear Power
- Africa Emerges as a Focus for New Nuclear Power Plants
- Holtec and Rwanda Ink Development Plans for SMR-300s
- Ghana Sets Plans to Build a 1,000MW Nuclear Plant
- Kenya Announces Ambitious Plans for 2,000 MW of Nuclear Power
- South Africa’s Eskom Reveals Talks with World Bank
Philanthropy Giants Focus on Africa to Support Nuclear Power
The newly formner Global Coalition for Nuclear Philanthropy aims to mobilize and coordinate philanthropic capital to accelerate efficient, safe, secure, and equitable nuclear energy deployment globally. The Coalition seeks to expand and align philanthropic support for nuclear energy as a driver of clean energy security, economic growth, energy abundance, and human development.
Leading the effort is The Rockefeller Foundation, based in New York, and Temasek Trust, based in Singapore. Coalition members include Blue Horizons Foundation, CleanEcon, Founders Pledge, Ray Rothrock, and the Rodel Foundation with the Oppenheimer Project serving as Strategic Partner; like-minded partners are welcome to join.
The effort aligns with the COP28 Declaration to Triple Nuclear Energy, a global pledge by over 30 countries to triple their nuclear power capacity by 2050 to meet net-zero goals.
At the Philanthropy Asia Summit, part of Ecosperity Week May 16-20, 2026, the Rockefeller Foundation and Temasek Trust announced the Global Coalition for Nuclear Philanthropy (GCNP), a collaborative initiative to mobilize philanthropic capital in support of nuclear energy as a driver for clean energy security, economic growth, energy abundance, and human development. The Coalition welcomes philanthropic partners to join this effort.
From 2024 through 2026, the International Energy Agency (IEA) predicts some of the highest growth rates in electricity demand, driven by higher heat and increased consumption of energy. Meeting this need will require a range of energy options, including nuclear.
Recent analysis, including The Rockefeller Foundation’s 2025 work on nuclear and total system costs, shows that firm, safe, and non-emitting nuclear generation and variable renewables are mutually reinforcing: each makes the other more affordable and effective at scale.
Goal of the Global Coalition for Nuclear Philanthropy
GCNP will grow and align philanthropic capital for nuclear across four strategic pathways, with the aim of supporting more countries in exploring the safe and credible integration of nuclear into their energy mix over the next 5 to 10 years:
Click on the image to see it full size.
Expected Outcomes of the GCNP
Build the case: Develop data-informed, culturally grounded narratives that connect nuclear energy to concrete outcomes — energy security, climate resilience, industrial competitiveness, and equitable development — and build durable public support.
Grow the field: Expand the global talent, institutions, and networks needed to deploy and govern nuclear power safely and effectively.
Make it bankable: De-risk financing structures and attract the public and private capital needed to bring nuclear projects to scale.
Strengthen governance: Build upon successful initiatives to strengthen safety, security, and governance frameworks to ensure nuclear expansion is verifiable and robust.
The Coalition will also serve as a platform for funders to access shared knowledge, identify high-leverage opportunities aligned with their priorities, and build partnerships.
The GCNP will be informed by experts from government, industry, academia, civil society, and international institutions, with local stakeholders and practitioners serving as partners to identify priorities and design interventions.
Ashvin Dayal, Senior Vice President for Power at The Rockefeller Foundation, said, “Universal energy abundance — the kind that powers industries, anchors economies, and raises living standards for billions — requires firm, clean power alongside renewables. The next generation of nuclear technologies, including small modular reactors, is advancing fast and costs are coming down, opening a real prospect that many developing and emerging economies could add safe, abundant, clean baseload power to their energy mix.”
“Getting there will take serious work on policy, regulation, finance, and human capital. That is precisely why we are forming the Global Coalition for Nuclear Philanthropy now.”
Philanthropy has, for decades, underinvested in the nuclear space. According to analysis by Founders Pledge drawing on ClimateWorks Foundation data, only 0.1–0.2% of climate philanthropy supports nuclear energy, less than $2 of every $1,000. Yet, interest and investment in nuclear energy are growing among policymakers, leading technology companies, and financial institutions.
Desmond Kuek, Executive Director and CEO, Temasek Trust, said “Nuclear power is a vital clean energy source that can help address the climate crisis. Through the Global Coalition for Nuclear Philanthropy, we aim to convene like-minded partners to support informed dialogue and responsible approaches to nuclear energy in upholding the highest standards of safety, security, and responsible waste management.”
About The Rockefeller Foundation
Investing $30 billion over the last 113 years to promote the well-being of humanity, The Rockefeller Foundation is a pioneering philanthropy built on unlikely partnerships and innovative solutions that deliver measurable results for people in the United States and around the world. We leverage scientific breakthroughs, artificial intelligence, and new technologies to make big bets across energy, food, health, and finance. ler-foundation.
About Temasek Trust
Temasek Trust was established by Temasek Holdings and is a steward of philanthropic assets. It aims to catalyze positive impact by protecting the planet, uplifting communities, connecting people, and advancing capabilities. By forging new pathways for philanthropy and impact investing with like-minded partners, Temasek Trust seeks to promote catalytic philanthropy as a force for good.
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Africa Emerges as a Focus for New Nuclear Power Plants
According to a post on Linkedin by the Oppenheimer Project, during a conference session titled, “Catalysing Public Interest and Early-Stage Capacity for Nuclear Energy in Africa: Philanthropic Role in the Nuclear Space,” session at the Nuclear Energy Innovation Summit on Africa (NEISA2026), global philanthropic leaders, industry experts, and development partners discussed the growing role of philanthropy in supporting Africa’s nuclear energy ambitions through public engagement, institutional support, workforce development, and catalytic financing initiatives.
Oppenheimer Project Co-Executive Director Karen Pak discussed how philanthropy can catalyse Africa’s nuclear future—strengthening public trust, building local capacity, and unlocking early-stage financing to accelerate responsible, locally led deployment.
Along with other panelists she emphasized the importance of investing in local capacity, regional partnerships, education, and long-term ecosystem development to ensure Africa’s nuclear future is shaped by sustainable, inclusive, and locally driven solutions.
The panel took place at the Nuclear Energy Innovation Summit on Africa conference held in Rwanda May 18-21.
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Holtec and Rwanda Ink Development Plans for SMR-300s
(WNN) Holtec International and the Rwanda Atomic Energy Board have signed a development agreement to work together on the deployment of SMR-300 units. Separately, 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.”
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”.
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.”
Nuclear Energy Innovation Summit for Africa
The conference, taking place in Kigali, was opened by Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame, who said: “For Africa, energy is not simply a development issue. It is the foundation of industrial growth, and competitiveness. At the centre of this endeavour is the question of investment. Too often, investors hesitate because they perceive many risks in Africa. We must work to strengthen regulation, ensure consistency and accountability, in order to build confidence and attract long-term capital.
“Nuclear energy is increasingly recognised as part of the clean energy transition and that creates new opportunities. What Africa cannot afford is fragmentation. If countries work in isolation, progress will be slow and far more costly. Cooperation on regulation, financing, and regional power integration is essential. This is precisely why NEISA matters. We are moving the conversation beyond ambition to practical coordination, and financing mechanisms that can sustain deployment at scale. Rwanda will continue supporting these efforts, because this is larger than any one country.”
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 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 added that, “for years, finance was a red line separating Africa from the benefits of nuclear energy. Today, that wall is coming down as nuclear projects become bankable and the doors of international financing open up.”
The Rwanda Atomic Energy Board reported Paula Ingabire, Minister of ICT and Innovation, as saying that: “As we think about industrial off-takers, whether it’s the mines, smelters, data centres, what lenders are looking for is predictability. They’re looking for 24/7 credit-worthy baseload demand. The natural anchors for that are going to be sectors where you know that a simple power outage is going to cost billions of dollars in revenues lost. That’s why even for Rwanda, as we announced that in the next decade, we should be able to have an SMR, we have already started thinking about those off-takers as a government and making sure that those are going to be ready when these facilities up and running.”
Background on Rwanda’s Plans for Nuclear Energy
Rwanda has been developing plans to adopt nuclear energy for a number of years, with President Kagame saying at the Nuclear Energy Conference in Paris in March that it plans to have its first small modular reactor operational in the early-2030s.
He said at that conference: “Nuclear energy is not too complex or risky for developing countries. The standards developed by the IAEA provide a universal framework that can be applied by countries at every income level … nuclear technology is evolving in ways that benefit countries with small grids, allowing Africa to be among the early adopters. Small modular reactors in particular are especially suited to Africa’s requirements.”
Holtec has been developing its SMR unit since 2011. The SMR-300 is a pressurized water reactor producing about 300 MW of electrical power or 1050 MW of thermal power for process applications. It plans to deploy two SMR-300 reactors – named Pioneer 1 and 2 – at the Palisades Nuclear Generating Station site in Michigan, demonstrating viability for additional orders both domestically and abroad.
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Ghana Sets Plans to Build a 1,000MW Nuclear Plant
The Government of Ghana has announced an ambitious plan to construct a 1,000 MW nuclear power plant to secure the nation’s energy future and drive industrialisation.
Speaking at the 2026 Africa Energy Technology Conference (AETC) in Accra, Julius Debrah revealed that the project is a cornerstone of President John Dramani Mahama’s administration’s strategy to provide affordable, reliable and clean electricity. Debrah is the President’s Chief of Staff.
He emphasised that as Ghana’s economy expands, the current energy mix must evolve to include nuclear power to meet the growing demands of the manufacturing and mining sectors. According to Debrah, the government has already initiated advanced discussions with international partners and regulatory bodies to ensure the project adheres to the highest global safety standards.
Debrah said, “The Government of Ghana is in the process of signing a bilateral agreement for the construction of a 1,000MW nuclear plant, and is also engaging local and international partners to construct small modular reactors to boost the transformational agenda.” However, he did not name any of parties invited to sign on to the agreement.
He noted that the transition to nuclear energy is not just about power generation but also about meeting Ghana’s climate commitments by reducing reliance on fossil fuels. The 1,000MW plant will serve as a baseload power source, providing the stability needed to prevent future power fluctuations.
Dedbrah called on stakeholders and the private sector to support the initiative, describing it as a “generational investment” that will create thousands of technical jobs and position Ghana as an energy hub for the West African sub-region.
Technical assessments for site selection are reportedly in their final stages, with the government expected to announce a formal roadmap for the construction phase in the coming months. No timeline was announced for selection of a reactor vendor, EPC, or developing of a final investment decision to build a new nuclear power plant of 1,000 MW.
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Kenya Announces Ambitious Plans for 2,000 MW of Nuclear Power
Kenya plans to incorporate nuclear energy into its electricity grid, aiming to begin constructing a 2000 MW nuclear power plant in Siaya County by 2027. The nuclear facility is expected to be complete by 2034 according to statements by Kenya’s President William Ruto.
He announced ambitious targets of increasing national installed capacity from 3,300 MW to at least 10,000 MW in the next five to seven years, with nuclear energy contributing 3,000 MW. Kenya’s government has disclosed that it is moving closer to this goal with plans to begin construction of a 2,000 MW nuclear power station in Siaya county by 2027. Ruto called for the the plant to be done by 2034.
Speaking further on its nuclear ambitions, Eng. Peter Njenga, the Managing Director and CEO of the Kenya Electricity Generating Company PLC (KenGen), noted that the Kenyan government has chosen KenGen to be the owner-operator of the nuclear power plant, which is set to have an operational lifespan of 60 to 80 years.
The Kenyan government did not indicate in its announcement for new nuclear power how it would finance the development of 2,000 MW and complete construction by 2034.
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South Africa’s Eskom Reveals Talks with World Bank
- Eskom seeks World Bank backing for nuclear push
- Up to 5,200 MW planned as South Africa seeks stable power supply
The Reuters wire service reports that South Africa’s state power utility Eskom is in exploratory talks with the World Bank and other international lending institutions over funding for a multibillion-dollar nuclear program that could be launched within 12 months.
Eskom, which runs Africa’s only operational nuclear power station near Cape Town, is preparing a request for information covering up to 5,200 MW of new capacity. The country’s economy has been negatively affected by unreliable supply of electricity despite the fact that Eskom is a state owned enterprise.
Eskom is proposing 4,800 MW from conventional pressurized water reactors and 400 MW from small modular reactors (SMRs), with at least half of the SMR capacity earmarked for its coal-to-nuclear strategy.
Getting the money to pay for these plants is a major challenges for the cash strapped state owned utility. According to Eskom utility executives, the agency is casting a wide net to secure funding opportunties. It is reaching out to commercial banks and the African Development Bank.
The World Bank, which last year said it would change its policy and consider funding new nuclear power plants, declined to comment in response to an inquiry from Reuters on whether it is in discussions with Eskom. The World Bank told Reuters its engagement is guided by countries’ development priorities and its policy framework, which allows for a range of technologies.
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