NEISA 2026 - Nuclear Energy Innovation Summit on Africa

Program Overview

All Day

Registration & Badge Collection

Foyer 1A

2:00pm – 4:30pm

Technical Preparatory Sessions for Ministerial Compact Roundtables

Working-level, pre-ministerial session convening senior technical officials to align priorities, structure key discussion areas, and strengthen the effectiveness of Ministerial deliberations.

Working Session | By Invitation | Room AD12

Technical Preparatory Sessions for Regulators Program

Working-level, pre-ministerial session working session for senior technical officials to align national positions, refine key issues, and ensure focused, outcome-oriented Regulatory discussions.

Working Session | By Invitation | Room AD12

6:00pm – 8:00pm

Dinner Reception

By Invitation

9:30am – 10:30am

Arrivals & Networking

11:00am – 12:30pm

Opening Ceremony

Remarks & Keynote addresses

High-Level Leadership Dialogue: Global Leadership Perspectives on Financing Africa's Nuclear Energy Future

A high-level dialogue examining how governments, multilateral institutions, and global partners can mobilise capital, manage risk, and unlock financing pathways to support the safe, investable, and long-term deployment of nuclear energy in Africa.

Discussion Focus

Financing barriers to nuclear energy deployment
Role of multilateral and public finance
Risk-sharing frameworks
International cooperation for investment

Plenary | Open to All Participants | Main Auditorium

1:00pm – 1:45pm

Lunch

2:00pm – 3:15pm

Plenary: Africa's Nuclear Energy Investment Case

This plenary explores the economic and strategic case for nuclear energy in Africa, highlighting how industrial demand, sovereign commitment, and innovative financing can transform nuclear projects from policy ambition into bankable infrastructure opportunities.

Discussion Focus

Role of nuclear in industrial growth
Demand as a driver of bankability
Financing structures and sovereign support
Global project lessons

Plenary | Open to All Participants | Main Auditorium

3:30pm – 5:00pm

Ministerial Compact Roundtable: Financing Africa's Nuclear Future

This closed roundtable examines how nuclear energy projects in Africa can become investable, focusing on financing structures, risk allocation, and policy signals required to mobilise capital and move projects from ambition to financing readiness.

Discussion Focus

Risk allocation and sovereign exposure
Financing structures
Investor requirements
Pathways to investability

Roundtable | By Invitation | Room AD12

Public Trust Dialogues

These dialogues explore how transparency, governance, and community engagement shape public confidence in nuclear energy programmes, highlighting leadership approaches to building trust and ensuring long-term societal support for nuclear deployment.

Discussion Focus

Drivers of public trust
Role of regulators and governments
Communication strategies
International lessons

Thematic session | Open to All Participants | Room MH1

B2B Meetings & Bi-laterals

B2B Lounge

5:30pm – 7:00pm

Networking Cocktail

9:30am – 10:30am

Plenary: Mining, AI, Manufacturing: Anchoring the Case for Nuclear Energy Deployment

This session examines how industrial and utility demand can anchor nuclear energy deployment, demonstrating how long-term offtake models and demand aggregation strengthen project bankability and position nuclear energy as a driver of industrial competitiveness and growth.

Discussion Focus

Role of industrial off-takers
Long-term PPAs and demand aggregation
Sector-specific demand (mining, AI, manufacturing)
Impact on financing and reactor choices

Plenary | Open to All Participants | Main Auditorium

10:45am – 11:45am

11:45am – 12:30pm

Ministerial Compact Roundtable: Advancing Nuclear Ambitions through Cooperation

This roundtable focuses on implementation pathways, examining how governments, regulators, utilities, and financiers can coordinate to translate financing readiness into credible nuclear energy deployment through institutional alignment, capacity building, and regional cooperation.

Discussion Focus

Implementation roadmaps
Institutional coordination
Capacity priorities
Regional cooperation

Roundtable | By Invitation | Room AD12

Legal, Advisory & Transactional Frameworks for Nuclear Energy Projects

This session examines the legal, contractual, and advisory frameworks required to support nuclear energy projects, focusing on how risk allocation, regulatory clarity, and structured agreements can strengthen investor confidence and enable bankable project development.

Discussion Focus

Contracting and risk allocation
Role of ECAs and guarantees
Legal frameworks for investor confidence
Lessons from global transactions

Thematic session | Open to All Participants | Room MH1

Technology Showcase

Showcase | Open to All Participants | MH1

B2B Meetings & Bi-laterals

B2B Lounge

12:30pm – 1:30pm

Lunch

1:45pm – 3:00pm

Plenary: SMR Deployment Readiness

Plenary | Open to All Participants | Main Auditorium

3:15pm – 4:30pm

Regulators Roundtable

This closed roundtable brings together regulatory leaders to examine how licensing systems, institutional capacity, and international standards can support timely and credible nuclear energy deployment, while strengthening investor confidence and avoiding delays in project development.

Discussion Focus

Licensing pathways and timelines
SMR regulatory frameworks
Harmonisation and standards
Regulatory impact on investment

Roundtable | By Invitation | Room AD12

Finance Clinics

These technical sessions focus on the practical steps required to move nuclear energy projects from policy ambition to financing readiness, exploring project structuring, institutional coordination, and financing strategies through case studies and interactive discussion.

Discussion Focus

Project preparation and structuring
Financing models for newcomer countries
Institutional coordination
Lessons from global projects

Thematic session | Open to All Participants | Room MH1

B2B Meetings & Bi-laterals

B2B Lounge

4:30pm – 5:30pm

Plenary: Regional Cooperation & Deployment at Scale

This session examines how regional cooperation can enable nuclear energy deployment at scale by pooling resources, aligning regulatory frameworks, and strengthening investment credibility across African markets facing shared constraints and opportunities.

Discussion Focus

Regional market aggregation
Regulatory alignment
Shared infrastructure
Role of regional institutions

Plenary | Open to All Participants | Main Auditorium

5:30pm – 6:00pm

Networking Cocktail

9:15am – 10:30am

10:30am – 12:45pm

NEISA NEXTGEN

Powering Africa's Nuclear Future

9:15am – 10:30am

Human Capacity Development: Building Africa's Nuclear Workforce

This session examines the workforce requirements for nuclear energy deployment, focusing on how governments, universities, industry, and international partners can develop the technical and institutional capacity needed to support nuclear programmes. It highlights pathways for building sustainable human capital across the nuclear value chain and enabling long-term programme delivery.

Discussion Focus

Workforce requirements across the nuclear value chain
Role of universities and training institutions
Regulatory and technical capacity development
International partnerships and knowledge transfer
Attracting and developing the next generation of nuclear professionals

Plenary | Open to All Participants | Main Auditorium

10:30am – 12:45pm

Track 1:

Understanding the Nuclear Ecosystem: What Does It Mean to Work in Nuclear Energy?

This opening session will provide an overview of the diverse professional roles required to support civilian nuclear programs.

Plenary | Open to All Participants | Main Auditorium

Track 2:

Career Development Session: "Building Your Path in Nuclear"

This interactive session will connect youth with fellowship programs, research centres, and international institutions.

Plenary | Open to All Participants | Main Auditorium

Track 3:

Hands-On Policy Simulation: "Nuclear Decision-Making Under Constraints"

This interactive workshop will engage youth in real-world nuclear governance scenarios, strengthen analytical and negotiation skills & foster teamwork and interdisciplinary thinking.

Workshops | KCC

PARALLEL SESSIONS

9:30am – 11:00am

Utilities & Power Systems Roundtable: Anchoring Demand and Enabling Bankability

This roundtable examines the role of utilities and power systems in anchoring nuclear energy deployment, focusing on how demand certainty, offtake structures, and system integration shape project bankability and enable practical implementation pathways. It explores how utilities, power pools, and system operators can coordinate with governments and financiers to translate nuclear ambition into investable, deliverable projects.

Discussion Focus

Role of utilities as anchors of demand and revenue certainty
Long-term PPAs and offtake frameworks
System integration and grid readiness for nuclear energy
Regional power pools and demand aggregation
Implications for financing structures and deployment models

Roundtable | By Invitation | Room AD12

11:30am – 12:45pm

Philanthropy Roundtable: Catalysing Public Interest and Early-Stage Capacity for Nuclear Energy in Africa

This roundtable examines how philanthropic and mission-driven capital can support the enabling conditions required for nuclear energy deployment, focusing on capacity building, public engagement, and early-stage programme development. It explores how philanthropy can complement public and private investment by strengthening institutional readiness and supporting responsible, transparent nuclear energy programmes in Africa.

Discussion Focus

Role of philanthropic capital in enabling nuclear energy ecosystems
Support for capacity building, research, and knowledge development
Public engagement and strengthening trust in nuclear energy
Early-stage programme development and policy innovation
Complementarity with public finance and private investment

Roundtable | By Invitation | Room AD12

1:15pm – 1:45pm

Closing Ceremony: From Commitment to Implementation: The Future of Nuclear Energy in Africa

This forward-looking closing dialogue will bring together leaders to translate Summit outcomes into concrete next steps, signalling a collective pathway for advancing the implementation of nuclear energy across Africa.

Plenary | Open to All Participants | Main Auditorium

1:00pm – 2:00pm

Lunch & B2B Meetings