Africa’s energy demand is rising rapidly, driven by population growth, industrialisation and the need for resilient, low-carbon development. Nuclear energy can offer a reliable, sustainable and climate-friendly solution capable of supporting long-term economic transformation. Kenya, through the Nuclear Power and Energy Agency (NuPEA), a state department under the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum, is progressing steadily in its nuclear power programme. To support regional dialogue and strengthen capacity, NuPEA, the US Department of State (Foundational Infrastructure for the Responsible Use of Small Modular Reactor, SMR, Technology - FIRST Program), Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) and the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) will jointly host the International Conference on Nuclear Energy (ICoNE) in Nairobi, Kenya.   

ICoNE 2026 brought together African governments, regulators, technical experts, academia, development partners and global nuclear institutions to explore how nuclear energy can drive Africa’s sustainable development and energy security.  

Objectives 

The goal of the conference was to bring together key stakeholders to discuss the vital role of nuclear power in Africa, its contributions to addressing climate change, energy security and sustainable development. Specifically, it aims to: 

• Promote high-level dialogue on the role of nuclear energy in Africa’s clean energy transition; 

• Deepen technical understanding and policy readiness for nuclear power development;

• Share global best practices from the NEA and other international partners; 

• Highlight Kenya’s progress and Africa’s growing nuclear leadership;

• Strengthen regional co-operation, capacity building and stakeholder engagement. 

Expected outcomes:

• Strengthened networks and partnerships among African and international nuclear stakeholders;

• Enhanced understanding of nuclear power’s role in addressing climate change, energy security and sustainable development in Africa;

• Actionable policy recommendations for integrating nuclear energy into national and regional strategies;

• Knowledge exchange and capacity building to support Africa’s readiness for nuclear deployment;

• Enhanced public awareness and stakeholder confidence in nuclear energy. 

Format  

The three-day conference featured high-level plenaries, technical sessions, panel discussions, breakout capacity-building workshops and networking sessions.  

Participants 

Policymakers, nuclear regulators, technical experts, academia, youth and women in nuclear networks, industry players, civil society, media and international organisations. 

Programme and practical information  

For details on the programme, logistics, visa letters and other practical matters, please contact the conference secretariat at icone2026@nuclear.co.ke and copy icone.Kenya@oecd-nea.org. 

Participation in this conference is free, but participants are responsible for covering any costs associated with their travel, visas, accommodation, insurance, subsistence and similar expenses.

Please note that a delegation discount is available with Kenya Airways and more information can be found here.