Togo: A National Nuclear Safety authority is set to become operational soon to establish a regulatory framework

Togo is crossing a new milestone in its ambitious civil nuclear policy. Under the impetus of the President of the Council, Faure Gnassingbé, the country is moving toward the operationalization of the National Nuclear Safety and Security Authority, a strategic institution designed to further structure the nuclear regulatory framework of this West African nation.

During last week’s Council of Ministers, the head of state instructed the relevant ministers to finalize the establishment of this body, which will be responsible for overseeing the prevention and management of risks related to radioactive materials.

This is a salutary decision as peaceful uses of nuclear energy multiply across the continent.

This direction is part of a broader movement to strengthen Togo’s legal framework in the nuclear field.

The government recently adopted several draft laws authorizing the country’s accession to international conventions relating to nuclear safety, radioactive waste management, and compensation in the event of a nuclear accident.

These texts will pave the way for technical cooperation and international funding mechanisms, essential for supporting the country’s capacity-building.

Furthermore, the Togolese authorities intend to establish an exhaustive mapping of radiological risks to which the territory might be exposed.

This approach, exemplarily rigorous, will serve as the foundation for the development of new regulatory texts in line with the most demanding international standards.

Since 2025, Lomé has multiplied initiatives in this strategic sector. Togo notably held a seat on the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), an international recognition of its seriousness.

The country has also created a Commissariat for Atomic Energy responsible for coordinating programs related to the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, particularly in health, agriculture, and potentially eventually in energy.

With the imminent operationalization of its National Safety Authority, Togo is equipping itself with the tools of a responsible, sovereign, and resolutely forward-looking nuclear policy.