Integrating Small Modular Reactors (Smrs) Into Africa’s Water And Energy Nexus For Sustainable Development

Bernice Karikari; Zvorykina U.V; Charles Essiam

doi:10.29284/ijasis.12.1s.2026.421-435

Authors

Bernice Karikari International Institute of Energy Policy and Diplomacy (MIEP), Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO), Moscow, Russia
Zvorykina U.V Energy Policy and Diplomacy of MGIMO University (MIEP) (MGIMO), Moscow, Russia
Charles Essiam Department of Integrated Science Education University of Education, Winneba (UEW), Central Region, Ghana

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29284/ijasis.12.1s.2026.421-435

Keywords:

Circular Economy, Governance, Regional Integration, Sustainable Development, Sub-Saharan Africa, Small Modular Reactors, Water–Energy Nexus,

Abstract

Sub-Saharan Africa faces a critical intersection of energy insecurity, freshwater scarcity, and inadequate liquid waste management, all of which undermine sustainable development. Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) offer a flexible, low-carbon solution capable of addressing these challenges by providing reliable baseload electricity and process heat for desalination and wastewater treatment.

This paper proposes an integrated deployment framework for SMRs within Africa’s water–energy nexus, combining technical feasibility, geospatial suitability, and governance readiness. A PESTLE-informed geospatial model identifies high-potential zones in Ghana, Nigeria, and South Africa, incorporating political stability, nuclear readiness, water stress, and infrastructure capacity. A comparative institutional analysis evaluates the roles of ECOWAS, the West African Power Pool (WAPP), and the African Union’s Agenda 2063 in advancing SMR deployment.

Findings indicate strong technical suitability in select regions but highlight persistent barriers, including fragmented regulations, financing constraints, and limited public acceptance. To address these, the paper outlines three pathways: (1) harmonized regional nuclear governance to streamline oversight and build trust; (2) innovative financing through blended capital and public–private partnerships to lower entry risks; and (3) decentralized SMR-powered water–energy hubs aligned with circular economy principles to enhance local resilience.

By reframing SMRs as enablers of integrated water and energy resilience rather than as electricity generators alone, this research underscores their potential to accelerate Africa’s climate adaptation, industrialization, and sustainable development.

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