Togo Lays Groundwork for Expanded Nuclear and Radiological Use
Wednesday, 10 June 2026 15:06 
(Togo First) - Togo is pressing ahead with efforts to strengthen its nuclear and radiological regulatory framework. During a plenary sitting on Tuesday, lawmakers unanimously approved on first reading four bills authorising the country's accession to key international conventions on nuclear safety and radiological risk management.
The four instruments are the Convention on Nuclear Safety, the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management, the Convention on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident, and the Convention on Assistance in the Case of a Nuclear Accident or Radiological Emergency.
According to the authorities, joining these conventions will strengthen national mechanisms for preventing, monitoring and managing risks associated with nuclear and radiological activities.
During the debate, Kouméalo Anaté, chair of the National Assembly's Committee on Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, stressed that nuclear activities—including the operation, transport, storage and handling of nuclear and radioactive materials—require robust safety standards and strong environmental safeguards. She said it was essential to establish effective oversight and safety mechanisms to better protect lives and the environment. The four conventions, she added, provide a coherent framework for the peaceful and safe use of nuclear technology.
A national strategy taking shape
The decision builds on reforms Togo has pursued over the past several years. In 2020, the country adopted legislation governing the safe, secure and peaceful use of nuclear energy, followed by the creation of a national authority responsible for nuclear safety and security.
For the government, the new bills represent another step toward the future civilian use of nuclear technologies. Robert Koffi Eklo, the minister delegate for energy, who presented the bills to parliament, thanked lawmakers for approving what he described as an important piece of legislation.
He said the package reflected "a coherent approach in our journey toward a particularly safe and secure use of nuclear energy for our country", adding that it would help position nuclear power as "an energy source for the future for our country and for neighbouring countries that can also benefit from it."
Having passed first reading in the National Assembly, the four bills will now be examined by the Senate, the upper house of parliament. If approved by senators, they will return to the National Assembly for a final vote in accordance with the legislative process.
Beyond electricity generation, nuclear technologies are used in a wide range of sectors, including healthcare, agriculture, scientific research, water resource management and industry. The authorities said the new accessions would also strengthen the country's ability to prevent and respond to incidents that could affect populations, the environment and economic activity.
Ayi Renaud Dossavi
