Despite being one of Africa’s largest economies and its most populous nation, Nigeria continues to face formidable obstacles in delivering reliable and equitable electricity access. While urban coverage reaches as high as 89%, just over a quarter of rural residents are connected to the grid. These disparities are sharp in coastal and island regions, where demand is high but infrastructure is underdeveloped. As the country accelerates its push toward universal electrification by 2030, one solution gaining traction could be found just off its shores: floating nuclear power.
Floating power units (FPUs) are self-contained nuclear facilities mounted on non-self-propelled vessels. Developed initially to serve remote northern territories in Russia, these compact and mobile units are now being adapted for tropical climates – offering a promising opportunity for Nigeria’s coastal energy landscape.
Nigeria’s energy statistics reveal the depth of the challenge. As of 2024, around 59.5% of the population had access to electricity. These figures reflect the limits of a fossil-dependent energy system, marked by price volatility, interruptions, and losses up to 70%. With a growing population projected to reach 400 million by mid-century and an increasingly urbanised coastal belt, Nigeria faces mounting pressure to upgrade and diversify its energy mix. Traditional solutions – expanding grid coverage, building new power stations, and deploying mini-grids – while critical, may not suffice on their own. To its credit, Nigeria has made notable strides in decentralised energy. The Solar Power Naija programme, launched in 2023, aims to equip over five million households with solar systems. The World Bank–backed Nigeria Electrification Project (NEP) has delivered over 100 mini-grids to 32,000 homes and businesses. Another $750 million initiative, DARES, is enabling partnerships with local utilities to deliver clean power to rural areas, complemented by UNDP-supported AMP programmes deploying solar-battery mini-grids to spur economic growth and support livelihoods across six regions through investment and innovation.
These interventions are part of Nigeria’s broader ambition to achieve 90% electrification by 2030, with 30% of generation coming from renewables. Yet solar and hydropower alone can’t ensure grid stability – especially where land use, seasonal changes, or infrastructure gaps limit deployment. Here, FPUs could serve as a complementary solution. Unlike conventional plants, floating nuclear units offer unique advantages: multi-year fuel cycles, zero emissions at point of use, compact size, and durability in harsh maritime conditions. These units are particularly suited for high-density coastal regions and isolated communities that would otherwise remain off-grid. In 2023, Rosatom began technical design work on a new class of export-oriented FPUs powered by advanced RITM-series reactors. These are engineered specifically for tropical deployment and offer improved cost-efficiency, safety, and reliability over earlier models.
The company’s prior success with the world’s first floating nuclear power plant – the Akademik Lomonosov, which supplies 77 MW of electricity and heat to the isolated Arctic town of Pevek – demonstrates the viability of the concept. But unlike Lomonosov, the new FPUs are intended as energy-only units, making them even more streamlined and exportable. Each unit will deliver 100 MW of electricity, significantly increasing overall generation capacity. Nuclear energy’s strategic value lies in its ability to deliver consistent baseload power with minimal environmental impact. In contrast to fossil fuels, nuclear is immune to price shocks and supply chain disruptions. And while weather-dependent renewables fluctuate, nuclear provides predictability – vital for planning and industrial growth. Floating units can be deployed near demand centres, eliminating the need for long-distance transmission and dramatically reducing line losses. With short construction timelines, low operating costs, and the ability to be relocated if necessary, FPUs can also serve as interim solutions while permanent infrastructure is developed.
For Nigeria, which exports electricity to Benin, Togo, and Niger but struggles to meet domestic demand, this technology could be transformative – not just for access, but for resilience and independence.
Nigeria and Russia have a long-standing cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy. Bilateral agreements were signed in 2009 and 2012 to facilitate the development of nuclear power infrastructure in Nigeria. In 2016, a framework for a multi-purpose research reactor centre was agreed upon, and in 2023, Tomsk Polytechnic University became the first Russian institution to formalise educational collaboration with Nigeria’s Atomic Energy Commission. Beyond energy, the adoption of nuclear technology promises far-reaching socioeconomic benefits. The construction and operation of FPUs can generate skilled employment, boost local engineering and manufacturing capacities, and promote STEM education. It also enables Nigeria to lead in West Africa’s energy transition – providing a model for clean, secure, and scalable electrification in the region.
FPUs emit no air pollution or greenhouse gases, aligning with Nigeria’s climate goals to cut emissions by 20%, or 47% with global support, by 2030. Given the country’s vulnerability to climate change, low-carbon solutions like nuclear are not just preferable – they are essential. As Nigeria charts its course through a complex energy transition, the inclusion of floating nuclear units offers a unique and timely opportunity. With strategic coastal positioning, a history of international collaboration, and pressing demand for stable, equitable power, Nigeria is well-placed to pioneer the deployment of FPUs in Africa. The question is no longer whether the technology works – it does. The question is whether Nigeria, through foresight and partnership, will harness it in time to power its growing cities and islands, and to shape its future.
