Togo: A strategic membership to secure the future of civil nuclear power
The Togolese government has taken a decisive step in securing its civil nuclear development. During its final Council of Ministers in 2025, it authorized the country’s accession to three major international legal instruments: the Convention on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident, the Convention on Assistance in the Case of a Nuclear Accident or Radiological Emergency, and the Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material.
This forward‑looking initiative aims to significantly strengthen the national framework for radiological safety and security.
By joining this network of conventions, Togo is equipping itself to prevent and manage risks with enhanced effectiveness.
The goal is twofold: to ensure rapid and transparent information sharing in case of an incident and to facilitate access to immediate international technical assistance.
This proactive approach demonstrates responsible governance, placing public safety and environmental protection at the heart of national strategy.
This accession is not an isolated act but a cornerstone of a growing legal and institutional framework.
It complements the June 2020 law on the safe, secure and peaceful use of nuclear technology and reinforces the role of the newly established Atomic Energy Commission, created in January 2025.
The Commission is tasked with coordinating peaceful nuclear applications in priority sectors such as health, agriculture, scientific research and, eventually, energy production.
On the international stage, Togo is affirming its consistent commitment. Its election to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors for the 2025‑2027 term, and the signing of an exploratory agreement with a U.S. company on micro‑nuclear reactors, illustrate this momentum.
Accession to these conventions further bolsters this posture by demonstrating the country’s intent to progress in strict compliance with the most demanding international norms and cooperation.
This government decision is therefore commendable. It outlines a prudent and structured pathway toward harnessing nuclear technologies for development.
By first establishing the strongest safeguards, Togo sets an example of a mature approach where innovation and energy ambition are inseparable from an absolute imperative of safety.
This is the essential condition for building a future in which civil nuclear energy reliably and securely contributes to the nation’s socio‑economic progress.
Chantal TAWELESSI
