Opening Ceremony — Remarks & Keynote Addresses

The official opening of NEISA 2026, featuring keynote remarks from Heads of State and senior international leaders, setting the vision for nuclear energy's role in Africa's sustainable development and energy future.

High-Level Leadership Dialogue: Global Leadership Perspectives on Financing Africa's Nuclear Energy Future

A high-level dialogue examining how governments, multilateral institutions, and global partners can mobilise capital, manage risk, and unlock financing pathways to support the safe, investable, and long-term deployment of nuclear energy in Africa.

Discussion Focus

• Financing barriers to nuclear energy deployment
• Role of multilateral and public finance
• Risk-sharing frameworks
• International cooperation for investment

Africa's Nuclear Energy Investment Case

This plenary explores the economic and strategic case for nuclear energy in Africa, highlighting how industrial demand, sovereign commitment, and innovative financing can transform nuclear projects from policy ambition into bankable infrastructure opportunities.

Discussion Focus

• Role of nuclear in industrial growth
• Demand as a driver of bankability
• Financing structures and sovereign support
• Global project lessons

Public Trust: From Social Acceptance to Project Delivery

These dialogues explore how transparency, governance, and community engagement shape public confidence in nuclear energy programmes, highlighting leadership approaches to building trust and ensuring long-term societal support for nuclear deployment.

Discussion Focus

• Drivers of public trust
• Role of regulators and governments
• Communication strategies
• International lessons

Mining, AI, Manufacturing: Anchoring the Case for Nuclear Energy Deployment

This session examines how industrial and utility demand can anchor nuclear energy deployment, demonstrating how long-term offtake models and demand aggregation strengthen project bankability and position nuclear energy as a driver of industrial competitiveness and growth.

Discussion Focus

• Role of industrial off-takers
• Long-term PPAs and demand aggregation
• Sector-specific demand (mining, AI, manufacturing)
• Impact on financing and reactor choices

Legal, Advisory & Transactional Frameworks for Nuclear Energy Projects

This session examines the legal, contractual, and advisory frameworks required to support nuclear energy projects, focusing on how risk allocation, regulatory clarity, and structured agreements can strengthen investor confidence and enable bankable project development.

Discussion Focus

• Contracting and risk allocation
• Role of ECAs and guarantees
• Legal frameworks for investor confidence
• Lessons from global transactions

Technology Showcase

Leading nuclear technology vendors present the latest reactor designs, SMR concepts, and cutting-edge solutions for African energy markets — from established large-scale plants to advanced micro-reactors suited to newcomer countries.

SMR Deployment Readiness

This plenary examines the technical, regulatory, and financial conditions required to move small modular reactor programmes in Africa from concept to deployment, drawing on global experience from technology vendors, utilities, and national programme leads.

Finance Clinic — Inside the Dealroom: Structuring Capital for Nuclear Energy Projects

These technical sessions focus on the practical steps required to move nuclear energy projects from policy ambition to financing readiness, exploring project structuring, institutional coordination, and financing strategies through case studies.

Discussion Focus

• Project preparation and structuring
• Financing models for newcomer countries
• Institutional coordination
• Lessons from global projects

Regional Cooperation & Deployment at Scale

This session examines how regional cooperation can enable nuclear energy deployment at scale by pooling resources, aligning regulatory frameworks, and strengthening investment credibility across African markets facing shared constraints and opportunities.

Discussion Focus

• Regional market aggregation
• Regulatory alignment
• Shared infrastructure
• Role of regional institutions

Human Capacity Development: Building Africa's Nuclear Workforce

This session examines the workforce requirements for nuclear energy deployment, focusing on how governments, universities, industry, and international partners can develop the technical and institutional capacity needed to support nuclear programmes.

Discussion Focus

• Workforce requirements across the nuclear value chain
• Role of universities and training institutions
• Regulatory and technical capacity development
• International partnerships and knowledge transfer
• Attracting the next generation of nuclear professionals

Catalysing Public Interest and Early Stage Capacity for Nuclear Energy in Africa: Philanthropic Role in the Nuclear Space

This session explores how philanthropic organisations, foundations, and civil society actors can catalyse early-stage interest, awareness, and institutional capacity for nuclear energy programmes across African nations.

Youth in Nuclear — Track 1: Understanding the Nuclear Ecosystem

This opening session provides an overview of the diverse professional roles required to support civilian nuclear programmes — from engineering and regulation to finance, policy, and communications.

Youth in Nuclear — Track 2: Hands-On Policy Simulation — Nuclear Decision-Making Under Constraints

This interactive workshop engages youth in real-world nuclear governance scenarios, strengthening analytical and negotiation skills while fostering teamwork and interdisciplinary thinking.

Youth in Nuclear — Track 3: Unlocking Youth Potential — How to Get Involved and Engaged

This interactive session connects young professionals with fellowship programmes, research centres, and international institutions, providing practical pathways to enter and advance within the global nuclear energy sector.

Closing Ceremony: From Commitment to Implementation — The Future of Nuclear Energy in Africa

This forward-looking closing dialogue brings together leaders to translate Summit outcomes into concrete next steps, signalling a collective pathway for advancing the implementation of nuclear energy across Africa.