Tanzania’s Energy Minister Deogratius Ndejembi has arrived in Washington, D.C., to participate in a high-level meeting on the development and safe use of nuclear technologies in maritime activities.
Mr Ndejembi arrived at the Tanzanian Embassy on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, where he was received by Tanzania’s Acting Ambassador to the United States, Eva Ng’itu.
The minister is in the US capital to attend the inaugural ministerial meeting for the Atomic Technologies Licensed for Applications at Sea (ATLAS) initiative, which runs from August 26 to 27.
The initiative by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) seeks to promote the safe, secure and sustainable use of nuclear technologies in maritime activities, including nuclear-powered vessels and floating nuclear power plants.
For Tanzania, the meeting comes as the country is at an early stage of preparing for a nuclear power programme. The government views the engagement as an opportunity to gain international experience on nuclear technology and the regulatory and institutional systems required to manage it safely.
The discussions are expected to cover emerging technologies such as Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), as well as policy, legal, regulatory, safety and security frameworks.
SMRs are smaller nuclear reactors designed to generate electricity at a lower scale than conventional large nuclear power plants and are increasingly being considered by countries exploring nuclear energy options.
Tanzania’s participation also provides an opportunity for policymakers and technical experts to assess lessons from other countries as the country considers the role nuclear power could play in strengthening its electricity supply and supporting long-term economic development.
Mr Ndejembi is accompanied by Simon Songe, Deputy Chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Energy and Minerals, members of the committee, and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Energy responsible for electricity and renewable energy, Felchesmi Mramba.
Officials and technical experts from the Ministry of Energy and the Tanzania Electric Supply Company (TANESCO) are also part of the delegation.
The government has been exploring nuclear energy as one of the options for diversifying Tanzania’s electricity generation mix, with emphasis on developing the necessary expertise, regulatory capacity and safety systems before any major nuclear power investment is undertaken.