Dar to host Russia–Africa Women’s Forum on nuclear energy

DAR ES SALAAM: On 22 October 2026, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, will host the Russia-Africa Women’s Forum “Dialogue of Continents: Nuclear Energy for the Future” at Crowne Plaza Dar es Salaam by IHG.

The Forum is organised by WiN Tanzania and the Association of Women in Nuclear Russia, with the support of the Tanzania Atomic Energy Commission, WiN Africa, Rosatom State Corporation, the Council of the Eurasian Women’s Forum, and the International Council for the Support and Development of Women in Industry and Technology (ICWITI).

Participants will discuss the role of women in nuclear energy, nuclear medicine and the mining sector, as well as workforce development and ways to encourage school and university students to pursue STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education and careers. Particular attention will be given to opportunities for women’s professional advancement in science and technology-driven industries, as well as initiatives and programmes implemented by governments and businesses to support women.

The Forum will bring together experts from Tanzania, Russia and other African countries representing government institutions, industry, academia and professional communities. Participants will represent countries across North, East, Central and Southern Africa.

“The development of nuclear energy requires strong international cooperation among women professionals, as well as consistent engagement with the younger generation. Platforms such as the Russia–Africa Women’s Forum, which we are organising together with our partners from the Association of Women in Nuclear Russia and which will address, among other topics, the development of nuclear technologies and women’s contribution to the sector, enable us to bring together women experts from different countries, create opportunities for exchanging experience, showcase successful career paths to school and university students, and inspire greater interest in careers in the nuclear industry,” noted Professor Najat Mohamed, President of WiN Tanzania and Director General of the Tanzania Atomic Energy Commission.

Rosatom supports international exchange and collaboration among school and university students through initiatives such as Atoms Empowering Africa, Global HackAtom, Icebreaker of Knowledge. These projects give young people opportunities to meet peers from other countries, engage with industry experts and discover how scientific knowledge is applied in practice.

The nuclear-powered icebreaker fleet also offers compelling examples of women’s professional achievements. In August 2025, Marina Starovoitova was appointed captain of the nuclear-powered icebreaker Yamal, becoming the world’s first woman to hold such a position. Her career demonstrates opportunities for professional growth and leadership in a high-technology industry to young people, particularly girls considering STEM careers.

“Women’s professional networks are becoming an increasingly important instrument for international cooperation and the development of high-technology sectors of the economy. The Forum in Tanzania will bring together the expertise of women from Russia and African countries and help identify promising areas for future collaboration. An important outcome will be the development of new joint initiatives by women from our countries, including within the framework of the International Council for the Support and Development of Women in Industry and Technology,” emphasised Head of the Association of Women in Nuclear Russia (Rosatom Women’s Community) Alexandra Ryabykh.

The Forum will provide a platform for professional dialogue against the backdrop of growing cooperation between Rosatom and Tanzania in the nuclear sector, spanning uranium mining and discussions on future nuclear power projects.

Rosatom subsidiary Mantra Tanzania Ltd. is developing the Mkuju River project in the Ruvuma Region, one of Africa’s largest uranium projects, with an estimated resource base of 58,500 tonnes of uranium. A pilot processing plant launched at the site in July 2025 is testing uranium extraction and processing technologies ahead of the main production complex, which is scheduled to be commissioned in 2029 with an annual capacity of up to 3,000 tonnes of uranium.

The two sides are also exploring broader prospects for nuclear energy cooperation. In June 2026, Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan confirmed the country’s interest in working with Russia to develop small modular reactors and floating nuclear power units. Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachev also indicated that a large-scale nuclear power plant could be considered in the 2030s, depending on the successful development of Tanzania’s nuclear sector.