KIGALI, Rwanda

The Rwandan government on Tuesday signed an agreement with Dual Fluid Energy Inc, a Canadian-German nuclear energy company, to collaborate on the development of a test nuclear power reactor in Rwanda.

The “demonstration Dual Fluid nuclear reactor” is expected to be operational by 2026 while the subsequent testing of the Dual Fluid technology is to be completed by 2028, according to a joint statement.

Under the agreement, Rwanda is to provide the site and infrastructure for the project, and the company would be responsible for the technical implementation.

Fidel Ndahayo, the chief executive officer of Rwanda Atomic Energy Board, said the move was part of his government’s efforts to meet the growing energy demand of its population, boost the development of its industrial sector and build an economy resilient to climate change.

“Rwanda is looking at nuclear energy to add to its energy generation mix. The Dual Fluid technology has nuclear safety design features that make it accident-free. The technology will produce relatively low amounts of radioactive waste that will be safely managed, in line with existing international radioactive waste management safety standards,” he said.

As part of the deal, Rwandan scientists will be given practical training in the field of nuclear technology.

Dual Fluid Energy seeks to realize an entirely new type of nuclear fission, based on liquid fuel and lead coolant that could exponentially increase the performance of current nuclear power.

The new reactors can be used to produce electricity, hydrogen, and synthetic fuels at costs below those of fossil fuels.

Gotz Ruprecht, Dual Fluid Energy’s chief executive officer, said the company was convinced that it had landed on an ideal partner for “the first realization of our groundbreaking technology.”

“Our demonstration reactor will show that a better, far more efficient way of generating nuclear energy is possible and within reach in the near future,” Ruprecht said.