Africa’s energy needs are enormous, especially as countries across the continent are moving quickly to build power-hungry industrial sectors. While the need for abundant clean energy is clearly there, some, led by Russian vendors, have proposed that nuclear energy may be the right solution.

A new generation of reactors that are purportedly smaller, more affordable, and supposedly a lot safer might be a good fit for Africa’s energy needs, they contend. While that may be true, a group of energy specialists from the China International Water and Electric Corporation, Wang Yudong (王宇栋), Li He (李合), Shen Yunjing (沈云京), urge African policymakers to tread carefully. In an article posted on the China Investment (中国投资) WeChat page, the trio argue that all but a select few African countries lack the necessary economic foundation and highly-skilled talent to make nuclear power a viable option. They urge policymakers to tread carefully.