Mr. Jonas Munyurangabo, Country Representative, UNIDO |Photo courtesy: UNIDO

Kigali –January 14 – Rwanda Atomic Energy Board (RAEB) held an introductory meeting with the United Nations Industrial Development (UNIDO) Country Representative, Mr. Jonas Munyurangabo, to discuss areas of collaboration in advancing national industrial readiness, identifying value-chain opportunities and driving local participation in nuclear-related fields.

The meeting held at UNIDO Rwanda offices presented an opportunity to share RAEB’s flagship projects; Nuclear Power Plant and Centre for Nuclear Science and Technology (CNST) aimed at harnessing cross-sector development in line with the country’s development goals under the National Strategy for Transformation (NST2) and Vision 2050. 

Among the highlighted non-power nuclear applications include; boosting agriculture productivity and food security through techniques such as food irradiation, pest control, cancer diagnosis and treatment in health sector, non-destructive testing in industries, and resources management, among others. 

Mr. Munyurangabo noted that nuclear-based techniques present transformative pathways to drive national development, especially in line with UNIDO’s thematic areas aimed at promoting inclusive and sustainable industrial development, renewable and clean energy, improving local value chain, and creation of decent jobs.

UNIDO serves as a global platform for knowledge and technology transfer, fostering partnerships and promoting and mobilizing investments in developing countries. 

The participants explored areas of potential partnership such as capacity building for quality management, infrastructure development and vocational training schools. Mobilizing cross-institutional efforts remains critical in identifying and leveraging industrial and market value of nuclear energy.

RAEB is conducting a National Industrial Localisation study for nuclear energy programme that will assess local industrial readiness, identify gaps, and determine opportunities for domestic firms to contribute to construction, materials supply, logistics, and selected services, while progressively upgrading capabilities to meet international safety, quality, and regulatory standards.

About RAEB

The Rwanda Atomic Energy Board (RAEB) is a government institution with a mission to promote peaceful use of nuclear energy for sustainable socio-economic development in key sectors of agriculture, health, electricity generation, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, industry, environment, geology and mining.

About UNIDO

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is a specialized United Nations agency with a unique mandate to promote inclusive and sustainable industrial development. It supports developing countries and emerging economies in building and transforming their industries.