Rosatom and NECSA sign MoU to train young nuclear specialists in Africa

Rosatom and the Nuclear Energy Corporation (NECSA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding on 5 March 2026 at the Africa Energy Indaba in Cape Town to cooperate on human-capital development across the nuclear and related technology sectors. The agreement establishes a long-term framework for skills development and knowledge exchange aimed at training young specialists and strengthening local and regional technical capacity in Africa.

The MoU names specific priority areas for immediate collaboration, including joint educational and training programmes, initiatives to support women and young professionals, short-term staff internships, development of engineering skills and professional competitions, and joint research projects. Rosatom framed the partnership as people-centred and safety-focused, with an emphasis on continuous professional growth to build a future-ready workforce.

As a concrete first-step commitment, Rosatom said it will provide an additional 15 bursaries this year for students and young professionals from South Africa to study at Rosatom partner or flagship universities. Rosatom’s public statement included the line, “As soon as this year, Rosatom will provide additional 15 bursaries for students and young professionals from South Africa to study at Rosatom flagship universities which already host more than 2,400” which appears in the release as published.

Rosatom’s deputy director general for human resources Tatiana Terentyeva described the rationale for the pact: “Strategic partnership with Necsa in the field of human capital development is based on shared values: a people-centred approach, a commitment to the highest safety standards, innovation and continuous professional growth.” NECSA’s human-capital lead Sithembile Mbuyisa reinforced the workforce aim: “Through collaboration on education, training and knowledge exchange, we aim to contribute to a globally competitive and future-ready nuclear workforce.”

The document was signed on behalf of Rosatom by Ryan Collyer, identified as CEO of Rosatom Central and Southern Africa, and on behalf of NECSA by Sithembile Mbuyisa, identified in reporting as NECSA’s senior human-capital executive. Titles for Mbuyisa vary in published accounts, where she is described both as Group Executive for Human Capital and as Executive Director for Human Capital; both descriptions identify her as the organisation’s lead on workforce development.

The Cape Town MoU follows other recent Rosatom activity in the region: a December delegation discussed construction of a nuclear power plant in Ethiopia with the Ethiopian Atomic Energy Commission, underscoring Rosatom’s regional engagement beyond South Africa. NECSA and Rosatom present the MoU as a foundation for longer-term programmes that can supply engineers, technicians and researchers for regional projects while expanding opportunities for women and early-career professionals.

The agreement sets a tangible near-term deliverable in the 15 bursaries and a broader, multi-year workplan for internships, competitions and joint research to build a sustainable pipeline of nuclear specialists across Africa.