West Africa’s Burkina Faso and Russia’s state-owned corporation Rosatom are nearing completion of a nuclear deal that would see a nuclear reactor built in the West African country. Rosatom is eager to expand its footprint in Africa, with partnerships already in place in Nigeria, Tanzania, and beyond.
According to Burkina Faso’s Energy Minister Yacouba Zabré Gouba, the deal will bring significant benefits to the country, including reducing the energy deficit and giving a socio-economic boost. He noted that the deal is still in the early stages, with a roadmap being finalized, and that the final details of the agreement will be hammered out later.
It is no surprise that Rosatom is eager to partner with Burkina Faso on this project. The Russian corporation has been aggressively pursuing partnerships in Africa over the past few years, looking to expand its influence in the continent. Rosatom already has partnerships with several African countries, including South Africa, Nigeria, Tanzania, Sudan, Egypt, and Rwanda. In addition, Rosatom is actively involved in developing uranium mining and related industries in Namibia, Malawi, and Niger.
Russia’s interest in Africa is motivated by several factors, including access to natural resources, trade and investment opportunities, and geopolitical influence. In particular, nuclear energy has been a key area of focus for Rosatom, with several agreements signed to build nuclear power plants in various African countries. The company has touted the benefits of nuclear energy for developing nations, including the ability to meet growing energy needs, generate clean and reliable power, and create high-skilled jobs.
In late October of the previous year, the Russian corporation Rosatom signed a memorandum of understanding with Burkina Faso to construct a nuclear-powered facility in the West African country. Since then, Russia has made concerted efforts to enter the African market, given the continent’s economic potential. This is evident in its existing collaborations with countries like Nigeria, Tanzania, Egypt, and Uganda.
In the case of Nigeria, the country’s Atomic Energy Commission and Russia’s Rosatom are working together to expedite the process of establishing a nuclear collaboration between the two countries. Tanzania, on the other hand, has also indicated its intention to use Russian nuclear technology to advance its economy. In January of this year, the Russian President Vladimir Putin and Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi officially started the construction of the fourth unit of the Egyptian Dabaa nuclear power plant. However, plans for similar projects in Uganda have yet to materialize despite being signed in 2016.
As Russia continues its efforts to expand its nuclear footprint in Africa, concerns about safety and environmental impact have been raised. In Rwanda, for example, there has been widespread resistance to the country’s planned nuclear facility due to fears about its potential risks. However, Rosatom has assured that all safety measures would be taken to ensure the safety of the facility and the people living near it.
