Russia to build nuclear power plant in Burkina Faso, reaches deal with Mali

Russia announced on Friday October 13 that it had signed agreements with Mali and Burkina Faso, with the aim of developing the civil nuclear sector there. These agreements were finalized during the Russian Energy Week which was held in Moscow.

“The government of Burkina Faso has signed a memorandum of understanding for the construction of a nuclear power plant,” Ouagadougou confirms in a press release. “The construction of this nuclear power plant aims to cover the energy needs of the population. »

Burkina Faso imports a large part of its electricity from its neighbors. At the end of 2020, only 22.5% of Burkinabè people had access to electricity, according to figures from the African Development Bank.

The Russian atomic energy agency, Rosatom, also announced on Friday that it had signed a cooperation agreement with neighboring Mali to develop civil nuclear power. According to her, the document focuses primarily on the “development of Mali’s nuclear infrastructure”, the “training of personnel, nuclear research facilities and nuclear energy” and “public awareness” of this energy.

Only one nuclear power plant on the continent

The African continent currently has only one nuclear power plant, in South Africa at Koeberg, near Cape Town. According to South African researcher specializing in nuclear structures, Iyabo Usman, Burkina Faso “does not have enough qualified personnel to operate this nuclear power plant” and will have to call on foreign personnel. She also mentions “a competition between China and Russia on the continent” in terms of investment in nuclear power plants.

Since Captain Ibrahim Traoré came to power, Burkina has distanced itself from France, a historic partner and former colonial power, notably by obtaining the departure of French soldiers from its soil in February.

Concerning Mali, Relations with France, a former colonial power engaged militarily alongside the Malian army against the jihadists since 2013, have deteriorated significantly since colonels took power by force in Bamako in August 2020. The junta pushed French forces out in 2022 and turned politically and militarily toward Russia. In January 2022, she expelled the French ambassador.

For its part, Russia has sought to strengthen its diplomatic and security ties with Africa since the start of the invasion of Ukraine, competing in certain countries with France.