South Africa endorses global declaration to triple nuclear energy by 2050

South Africa has joined the growing international coalition of the ambitious supporting the Declaration to Triple Nuclear Energy by 2050, reinforcing the role of nuclear power in achieving climate and energy security goals.

The declaration, first launched at COP28, calls for global nuclear capacity to at least triple by 2050 to help meet decarbonisation targets and Paris Agreement goals.

South Africa has become the 34th country to endorse the initiative during the Nuclear Forum at the Africa Energy Indaba 2026 in Cape Town, signalling increased momentum behind nuclear energy as part of the global clean energy transition.

The full declaration and list of supporting countries can be found here: https://world-nuclear.org/net-zero-nuclear/tripling-pledges/declaration-to-triple-nuclear-energy

South Africa’s endorsement was highlighted by the country’s Minister of Electricity and Energy, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, who emphasized the importance of reliable and scalable power to support economic development and industrial growth across Africa. In his keynote remarks, the Minister commented that energy is fundamental to economic transformation, competitiveness, and improving living standards across the continent.

His keynote remarks at the Africa Energy Indaba Nuclear Forum can be read in full here: https://www.dmre.gov.za/news-room/post/5910/africa-energy-indaba-nuclear-forum-keynote-address

With more than 600 million people in Africa still lacking access to electricity, expanding reliable energy infrastructure is critical for economic development and industrialization across the continent. Nuclear energy offers clean, abundant and reliance energy that can 24/7 while supporting long-term decarbonization goals.

South Africa already operates two nuclear reactors generating 5% of its electricity and has had nuclear energy as part of it's energy mix since 1984 when Koeberg 1 was connected to the grid. By endorsing the tripling declaration, South Africa joins governments, financial institutions and industry intheir support to increase nuclear energy capacity to expand access to clean, reliable power around the world.

Watch Dr Sama Bilbao y Leon, Director General of World Nuclear Association, welcome South Africa to the coalition of the ambitious:

Read the press release in full here: https://world-nuclear.org/news-and-media/press-statements/south-africa-endorses-global-declaration-to-triple-nuclear-energy-by-2050