Russia to develop a nuclear power plant in Burkina Faso

Russia has announced plans to develop a nuclear power plant in Burkina Faso. The Nation inked memorandum of understanding with Burkina Faso’s government for the construction of the project with an aim of meeting the country’s energy needs.

Burkina Faso has a relatively low percentage of its population with access to electricity, and this initiative aims to bridge that gap and provide more reliable and sustainable energy sources. The country aims at achieving 95% electricity access for urban areas and 50% for rural areas by 2030.

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MoU

The MoU marks the first such document in the field of nuclear energy cooperation between Russia and Burkina Faso. It is a culmination of talks between Burkina Faso’s military ruler, Captain Ibrahim Traore, and Russian President Vladimir Putin during the Russia-Africa summit in Moscow. The agreement represents a commitment from both countries to cooperate in the peaceful use of atomic energy, extending beyond electricity production to areas like industry, agriculture, and medicine.

While South Africa is the only African nation currently producing nuclear power commercially, more countries on the continent are exploring nuclear energy as a means to meet their energy demands. Egypt and Nigeria have signed deals with Russia to build nuclear power plants, and Kenya has announced plans for its first nuclear power plant. This demonstrates a growing interest in nuclear energy across Africa.