Burkina Faso and Russia’s Rosatom ink agreement for nuclear power plant

The military junta in Burkina Faso says it has signed a memorandum of understanding with Russia to construct a nuclear power plant to aid its energy needs. In a statement, the government reiterated that the plant would help to provide nuclear safety and security for the West African country…

Burkina Faso and Russian state nuclear company Rosatom on Friday announced a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the construction of a nuclear power plant in the West African country.

The nuclear power plant will pave the way for Burkina Faso to meet its energy needs, according to the agreement signed by energy and mines minister Simon-Pierre Boussim, and Nikolay Spasskiy, Rosatom’s deputy director general.

The agreement is the result of a request made by Burkina Faso junta commander Captain Ibrahim Traore to Russian President Vladimir Putin in July during the Russia-Africa meeting in St Petersburg.

Traore, who took office in a military coup in September 2022, has tilted towards Russia as relations with its former colonial power France continue to nosedive.

On the other hand, Russia has been seeking to break Western isolation over the Ukraine war and boost its influence and presence in Africa.

The Memorandum of Understanding signed in Moscow on Friday does not provide additional information about the prospective nuclear power facility, its funding, or a construction date.

The MOU stressed that the agreement will support the development of nuclear infrastructure and technologies for medical and agricultural processes and implementation in Burkina Faso, as well as providing assistance to the landlocked Sahel state in nuclear safety and security.