Zambia perfecting plans to introduce nuclear power in energy mix —Ministry of Technology and Science

Zambia has begun developing a comprehensive legal and regulatory framework to govern nuclear safety, security, safeguards and liability as part of its plan to introduce nuclear power into its energy mix. Ministry of Technology and Science Principal Public Relations Officer, Ilitongo Maboshe, said draft legislation covering these areas had progressed significantly, alongside the domestication and ratification of key international nuclear conventions and treaties. In a statement issued on Thursday, Maboshe said the government had also developed more than 15 national policies and strategic instruments addressing essential infrastructure components, including nuclear safety and security, safeguards compliance and emergency preparedness.

“Significant progress in the implementation of Phase I of the Nuclear Infrastructure Development Programme has been achieved, marking an important milestone in the country’s long-term energy and industrial development strategy,” she said. Maboshe said Phase I focuses on establishing the institutional, legal, regulatory and policy foundations required for Zambia to safely and responsibly introduce nuclear power. She said the phase was being implemented in line with guidance from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which advises newcomer countries on building governance-driven and safety-led nuclear programmes.

She listed areas under development as including emergency response, radioactive waste management, human resource development, stakeholder engagement, and nuclear liability and insurance mechanisms. Maboshe said the milestone-driven approach ensured Zambia’s nuclear programme was grounded in strong governance, regulatory independence and international best practice rather than being technology-led. She added that recent government approval to procure technical support services was a strategic step toward completing Phase I.

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“This support will enable Zambia to conduct detailed infrastructure gap assessments, finalise institutional capacity mapping, strengthen regulatory readiness and validate national compliance against the IAEA Milestones framework,” she said. The support will also enable Zambia to prepare documentation for international peer review missions, including Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review (INIR) processes. Maboshe said completion of Phase I will confirm that Zambia had met the minimum requirements to transition to Phase II, which involved preparatory work for nuclear power plant construction.

“Importantly, this milestone will signal to the international community and potential technology vendors that Zambia’s nuclear programme is structured, credible, compliant and investment ready,” she said. Maboshe said the government remained committed to a safety-first, compliance-driven nuclear programme aligned with global standards.

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