IAEA supports uranium production cycle in Uganda

Uganda hosts an IAEA mission to assess and improve its uranium production infrastructure with a view to developing its nuclear capacity.

Share:

Infrastructure Uranium Ouganda IAEA

Uganda recently welcomed experts from the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) as part of the IUPCR (Integrated Uranium Production Cycle Review) mission. These missions are designed to help member countries develop an infrastructure for their national uranium production programs, covering all phases of the production cycle. This initiative is crucial to Uganda’s plans to develop nuclear power plants with a total capacity of 24,000 MW. This shows the country’s determination to develop its nuclear sector alongside its oil sector.

Objectives and importance of the IUPCR mission

The IUPCR mission, commissioned by the Ugandan government, provides independent reviews based on IAEA safety standards, technical advice and internationally recognized practices. It also enables Ugandan representatives to exchange views with international experts on legal, regulatory and operational best practices. These reviews help countries to identify areas requiring further attention or resources, or to confirm their readiness to move forward with their uranium production cycle.

Nuclear exploration and projects

Uganda is actively exploring for uranium, particularly in the Buhweju district, with the aim of discovering deposits for a sustainable supply of nuclear fuel. Irene Bateebe, Permanent Secretary at Uganda’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, emphasized that IAEA-supported exploration and evaluation of uranium resources is essential to guarantee a continuous supply for the country’s future nuclear power plants and research reactors.

Outlook and long-term plans

As part of Uganda’s Vision 2040, issued in 2013, the development of nuclear capacity is included as a key element of the country’s future energy mix. In May 2022, the Ugandan government acquired land for the construction of a nuclear power plant. In August 2023, President Yoweri Museveni announced that Russia and South Korea had been chosen to build two nuclear power plants with a combined capacity of 15 GWe.

Nuclear education and training

In addition to power generation projects, the Ugandan government plans to create a center for nuclear science and technology. The center will be dedicated to education, training and nuclear research, and will also require uranium for the production of radioisotopes for industrial and medical applications.

The IAEA’s role in nuclear development

IAEA missions, such as the one carried out in Uganda, are crucial to ensuring that national nuclear programs are safe, effective and in line with international best practice. By providing detailed assessments and recommendations, the IAEA helps countries build a robust and sustainable nuclear infrastructure.
Uganda’s commitment to the development of its nuclear infrastructure, supported by the IAEA, marks an important step towards a sustainable energy future. Uranium exploration initiatives and plans to build nuclear power plants reinforce Uganda’s position as an emerging player in the nuclear energy sector.

The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission has identified no major barriers to licensing the ARC-100 reactor, announces ARC Clean Technology.
SE Ignalina, the Lithuanian nuclear operator, has signed a memorandum of understanding with French firm Newcleo to explore the integration of small modular reactors (SMRs) using lead-cooled fast reactor (LFR) technology in Lithuania.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi oversaw the signing of new agreements for the construction of the El Dabaa nuclear power plant, thus strengthening the strategic cooperation between Egypt and Russia.
Vistra Corp receives green light to extend Perry nuclear plant operations in Ohio by 20 years, securing regional electricity supply until 2046 and ensuring operational continuity for all its nuclear reactors in the United States.
EDF will hold a 12.5% stake in the Sizewell C nuclear project in the UK, a €1.3 billion investment announced during Emmanuel Macron’s official visit to London, confirming the strategic nuclear energy alignment between the two countries.
The French Cigéo project, designed to bury the most hazardous radioactive waste deep underground, obtains a crucial technical validation before its final authorization, expected by the end of 2027.
EDF confirms the continuation of its industrial project in Fessenheim for recycling very low-level radioactive metals, a first in France requiring specific regulatory authorizations, following a public debate concluded last February.
NANO Nuclear Energy Inc. formalizes its collaboration with UrAmerica Ltd. to strengthen Argentina’s uranium supply, aiming to secure future nuclear fuel supply chains for the U.S. market.
American companies SHINE Technologies and Standard Nuclear partner to recycle uranium and plutonium, supplying advanced fuel to the nuclear reactor sector and enhancing the national energy security of the United States.
The American Bureau of Shipping and two nuclear sector companies are studying the potential deployment of floating nuclear power plants to meet the energy needs of island and coastal regions in the Mediterranean, notably via electricity and desalination.
Lithuania establishes a working group tasked with assessing the feasibility of modular nuclear reactors to meet electricity demand estimated at 74 TWh by 2050.
Framatome has secured two significant contracts from Electrabel covering modernisation and technical support for the Tihange 3 and Doel 4 nuclear reactors, as part of their extension agreed upon between Engie and the Belgian government.
Cairo is stepping up connection works for the planned 4,800 MW El-Dabaa nuclear plant, developed with Rosatom, to feed the grid from 2026 with output equal to about seven % of national electricity.
The US Department of Energy has selected Westinghouse and Radiant Nuclear to conduct the first nuclear microreactor tests at the DOME experimental centre located in Idaho, with operational start expected in spring 2026.
GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy and Fortum announce partnership aimed at preparing for the potential deployment of small modular reactors in Finland and Sweden, with commissioning scheduled for the 2030s.
Energy Fuels Inc. announced record production of 638,700 pounds of uranium during the second quarter of 2025 at its Pinyon Plain mine in Arizona, significantly surpassing initial site performance forecasts.
Argentina and Peru have signed an agreement expanding their scientific and technological cooperation in the civil nuclear field, including joint research projects and specialised training programmes for future development.
After several decades without funding nuclear projects, the World Bank has formed a strategic partnership with the IAEA to provide technical and financial support to countries integrating nuclear energy into their energy strategies.
South Korea's Nuclear Safety and Security Commission officially validates the decommissioning of reactor number one at the Kori plant, initiating an unprecedented project for the national industry scheduled to last until 2037.
Uranium producer enCore Energy surpasses three thousand pounds per day at its Alta Mesa ISR complex and sees three new Texas laws as a strong signal for faster nuclear production permits.