Saturday 31st October 2026
By inAfrika Newsroom
Rosatom says Tanzania is among four African countries in substantive discussions over floating nuclear power projects. The statement signals continuing commercial talks, but the announcements reviewed do not identify a Tanzanian site, a construction contract, a project price or a deployment date.
Chief executive Alexey Likhachev named Tanzania, Egypt, Togo and Namibia when speaking to reporters on 30 October, according to Interfax’s account. He said nine countries had shown interest in the technology, while describing separate discussions on larger nuclear plants with other African partners.
An earlier Reuters report dated 28 October described Rosatom’s offer of 100-megawatt floating units adapted for warmer climates. Under the proposed commercial model, customers would buy electricity while Rosatom handles servicing and refuelling.
Floating nuclear facilities carry reactors aboard vessels rather than locating the complete generating plant on a conventional land site. Moving the reactor offshore does not, however, settle the arrangements for connecting electricity to customers or establishing the institutions responsible for oversight.
The IAEA’s Milestones Approach distinguishes a country’s initial consideration of nuclear power, preparation for contracting and construction, and readiness to operate a first plant. Those stages help explain why a supplier’s report of negotiations cannot establish that a country is ready to receive operating nuclear capacity.
The IAEA also identifies separate responsibilities for government, an independent regulatory body and a competent owner or operator. The institutional work therefore matters alongside the reactor design, including how safety oversight and operating responsibilities would be established.
Tanzanian businesses assessing the potential energy contribution will need the eventual commercial and technical details. Capacity offered by a supplier does not reveal the delivered electricity price, connection arrangements or when dependable supply would become available to industry.
The immediate milestone is evidence of a defined Tanzanian project and agreed next steps, rather than assuming talks constitute a procurement award. That distinction fits the wider regional question of how planned generation becomes reliable electricity for productive users.
Have a verified news development or story? Send news submissions and supporting materials to news@inafrika.co.tz
Portuguese 
English 
Swahili 
French 
Chinese