Ethiopia aims to begin generating electricity from nuclear power within the next 10 years as it seeks to meet rapidly rising energy demand and support long-term economic growth, officials said.
The Ethiopian Nuclear Energy Commission (ENEC) said preparatory work is already under way, including the establishment of national institutions and regulatory frameworks required to develop a civilian nuclear power programme in line with international safety standards.
“Nuclear energy development and power generation usually take between 10 and 15 years, but some countries have managed to shorten this timeframe,” ENEC deputy commissioner Abdulrazak Omar told local media, citing China as an example. “Ethiopia is working to achieve similar progress in less than a decade.”
He said the programme extends beyond physical infrastructure to include nuclear safety, security, regulation and public awareness, stressing that broad coordination would be required to manage the risks associated with nuclear energy.
Ethiopia’s push comes amid fast-growing electricity demand driven by population growth, urbanisation and industrial expansion. Officials estimate national power demand could reach nearly 86 terawatt-hours by 2035, far exceeding current generation capacity.
The government has framed nuclear power as a source of reliable baseload electricity that would complement hydropower, which currently dominates Ethiopia’s energy mix but is vulnerable to climate variability.
The Ministry of Innovation and Technology (MInT) and ENEC have been holding consultations on cooperation under Ethiopia’s Peaceful Nuclear Technology Development Programme. Innovation and Technology Minister Belete Molla said nuclear energy would play a key role in accelerating economic growth and supporting emerging sectors such as advanced manufacturing and data centres.
He added that the ministry would support ENEC in creating the institutional and cultural foundations needed to develop the sector.
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ENEC commissioner Sandokan Debebe said significant progress had already been made in establishing the commission and making it operational, adding that coordinated implementation of the nuclear programme had strong backing from the Ethiopian government.
In December 2025, Ethiopia and Russia signed a non-disclosure agreement in Moscow, marking a further step towards the country’s first nuclear power plant. The agreement forms part of a broader framework for cooperation on nuclear energy development and construction.
The NDA was signed by Debebe and Andrey Rozhdestvin, director general for energy projects at Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom. The two sides reviewed a detailed roadmap linked to a comprehensive action plan signed in September 2025 on the sidelines of World Atomic Week in Moscow.
The nuclear cooperation builds on earlier discussions between Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Russian President Vladimir Putin on expanding bilateral ties, including the peaceful use of nuclear technology.
Ethiopia formally launched its national nuclear power programme earlier this month at a high-level ceremony in Addis Ababa. Foreign Minister Gedeon Timothewos said the initiative was driven by soaring electricity demand, the need for stable power supply and Ethiopia’s long-term industrial ambitions.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is providing technical assistance, including capacity building, regulatory support and infrastructure planning. IAEA deputy director general Mikhail Chudakov said the agency was committed to helping Ethiopia establish the institutional and human-resource foundations required for a safe and secure nuclear programme.
