The agreement was concluded on June 29, 2026, during the inaugural Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) meeting on peaceful nuclear cooperation between Rwanda and Rosatom in Moscow. The meeting was co-chaired by Dr. Lassina Zerbo of the Rwanda Atomic Energy Board and Rosatom First Deputy Director General Kirill Komarov.

The JCC reviewed progress across Rwanda’s nuclear programme, including plans for a nuclear power project, the establishment of a Centre for Nuclear Science and Technology, regulatory development, and workforce training. The session ended with the signing of a JCC protocol and an SMR-focused roadmap outlining next steps for implementation.

Komarov said the partnership has shifted from broad agreements to “systemic” cooperation focused on concrete projects, including infrastructure development and specialist training. He noted Rosatom’s readiness to support Rwanda through each stage of its nuclear programme.

Zerbo said the roadmap builds on cooperation dating back to 2018 and reflects Rwanda’s goal of incorporating nuclear power into its energy mix by the early 2030s. He emphasised that the programme is also an investment in science, skills, and long-term national development.

“Implementing a nuclear energy programme is first and foremost an investment in people, in science and in the country’s long-term development. The Joint Coordinating Committee allows us to move to substantive work across every track of our programme,” he noted.

The agreement consolidates earlier milestones, including a 2018 intergovernmental nuclear cooperation framework and a 2019 roadmap for establishing a Centre for Nuclear Science and Technology in Rwanda, which is expected to include a research reactor and supporting laboratories. More recently, in May 2026, both countries signed an MoU in Kigali focusing on nuclear medicine and advanced training.

The Rwandan delegation’s visit to Russia also included participation in the Obninsk New 2026 youth forum and technical tours of Rosatom facilities, aimed at strengthening expertise and institutional capacity.

The latest SMR roadmap is expected to guide the next phase of cooperation, aligning infrastructure development, regulatory readiness, and human resource training under a coordinated implementation framework for Rwanda’s emerging nuclear energy programme.