Morocco remains in the earliest phase of nuclear energy development, according to the latest assessment by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which places the kingdom among ten African nations still conducting feasibility studies without having made a political commitment to launch a civilian nuclear program.
The IAEA’s classification, echoed by Jeune Afrique, includes countries such as Algeria, Tunisia, Senegal, and Rwanda, all currently exploring the possibility of integrating nuclear energy into their national strategies but yet to advance beyond the “project study” phase.
While IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi has previously identified Morocco as a potential future “nuclear nation” alongside Nigeria, Ghana, and Kenya, the agency’s latest report makes clear that Rabat has not yet crossed the critical threshold of political approval or infrastructural commitment needed to move forward.
Across Africa, the race toward nuclear power is intensifying, driven by the urgent need for reliable energy sources and reduced dependence on fossil fuels. While nearly 20 countries have signaled their interest in nuclear energy, only four, namely Egypt, South Africa, Nigeria, and Ghana, have taken concrete steps toward plant development.
Egypt is currently leading the way with its $30 billion El Dabaa nuclear project, involving the construction of four reactors in partnership with Russia’s Rosatom. South Africa, meanwhile, remains the only African nation with an operational nuclear power station—Koeberg, commissioned decades ago by French contractors.
Nigeria, Ghana, and Kenya are gradually progressing, with tenders and technical designs in preparation. Morocco, however, along with other nations still in the IAEA’s first-phase category, remains focused on legal frameworks, institutional planning, and cost-benefit analyses, pending a formal policy shift.
The continent’s growing interest in nuclear technology is also attracting major international players, including France’s EDF, Korea’s KEPCO, Russia’s Rosatom, and China’s CNNC, which alone launched seven new reactor projects globally in 2024.
For now, Morocco’s nuclear future remains hypothetical—but increasingly relevant amid regional energy shifts and global climate targets.
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