African countries must increase women's participation in nuclear energy development to address skills shortages, create jobs and ensure emerging technologies benefit more people, according to Elsie Pule, Head Coordinator of the BRICS Nuclear Platform. Ms Pule, who also serves as Director of Special Projects for Rosatom's Central and Southern Africa region, made the call at the Russia-Africa Women's Forum in Dar es Salaam on Thursday. She said women should take active roles in policymaking, engineering, scientific research and leadership as African countries explore nuclear energy to strengthen electricity supply and support economic development.
The continent's nuclear ambitions require a skilled and diverse workforce to succeed, Ms Pule said. Energy poverty disproportionately affects women, particularly in communities with limited access to electricity and clean cooking solutions, where women often bear the burden of collecting firewood and face associated health and safety risks. Nuclear energy can contribute to long-term energy security while creating opportunities for industrial development, skilled employment and wider access to reliable electricity, she argued. Ms Pule said that Africa's energy future will be stronger, more inclusive and more sustainable when women help shape it as policymakers, scientists, engineers, leaders and entrepreneurs.
Several African countries are already advancing nuclear energy initiatives. Egypt is constructing its first nuclear power plant, while Ghana and Kenya are developing nuclear programmes, and other countries are exploring nuclear technology, Ms Pule said. Tanzania's developing nuclear sector, including uranium mining, presents opportunities to build local expertise and increase women's participation in engineering, mining and energy-related careers. She pointed to cooperation involving Rosatom and Mantra Tanzania Limited in the Mkuju River uranium project as an example of initiatives that can go hand in hand with training local specialists and expanding employment opportunities for women.
Rosatom's experience demonstrates the potential for women's participation in the nuclear sector. Women accounted for 33 per cent of Rosatom's workforce overall, while they represented about 49 per cent of employees in its engineering division, contributing to the design and construction of nuclear facilities, research and technological project management, Ms Pule said. She said Rosatom's programmes supporting women's professional development can provide opportunities for collaboration with African institutions and professionals.