Burkina Faso and the Russian state nuclear company Rosatom inked a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Friday, paving the way for the construction of a nuclear power plant in the landlocked Sahel West African nation, as confirmed by Burkina Faso’s energy ministry in a statement.
The nuclear power plant, once operational, will serve as a means for the country to fulfill its energy requirements, the energy ministry reported.
The agreement was signed by Burkina Faso’s Minister of Energy and Mines, Simon-Pierre Boussim, and Nikolay Spasskiy, the Deputy Director General of Rosatom.
This agreement stems from a request by Captain Ibrahim Traore, the leader of Burkina Faso’s junta, made to Russian President Vladimir Putin during the Russia-Africa summit held in St. Petersburg in July.
Traore, who assumed power through a military coup in September 2022, has been drawing closer to Russia as Burkina Faso’s relations with its former colonial power, France, deteriorate. Simultaneously, Russia has been working to break its isolation in the West amid the Ukraine conflict and expand its influence across the African continent.
With a population of over 20 million, the semi-arid nation currently possesses an installed power generation capacity of slightly more than 420 megawatts.
The nation, akin to its neighboring countries Mali and Niger, is enhancing its relations with Russia, notably in terms of military collaboration, as they grapple with the challenge of combating Islamist insurgencies associated with groups like al-Qaeda and the Islamic State.
The memorandum of understanding (MOU) inked in Moscow on Friday lacks specific details about the prospective nuclear power plant, including its financing, and a projected construction timeline.
The agreement is expected to contribute to the advancement of nuclear infrastructure and technology, facilitating applications in medical and agricultural sectors in Burkina Faso. Additionally, it will offer support in areas such as nuclear safety and security to benefit the country.
