A delegation from Rosatom, Russia’s state-owned nuclear energy corporation, began a four-day visit to Burkina Faso on Tuesday.
The purpose of this visit is to assess the feasibility of constructing a nuclear power plant in collaboration with the government of this energy-deficient nation.
Prior Agreement for Nuclear Development
In October 2023, an agreement was signed in Moscow between the governments of Burkina Faso and Russia for the construction of a nuclear power plant. The relationship between the two countries has strengthened since Captain Ibrahim Traoré’s military regime came to power in a coup in September 2022.
Technical Discussions and Hopeful Outcomes
“The Rosatom delegation has come to discuss technical aspects that will allow us to lay the necessary groundwork to implement and begin the construction of this power plant,” declared Yacouba Zabré Gouba, Burkina Faso’s Minister of Energy, Mines, and Quarries, after a working session.
He expressed optimism about the visit, stating, “We have high hopes for this visit, which will allow us to get a handle on the realities of energy issues, but also on other aspects that will concern other ministries,” including Health, Higher Education, Agriculture, and the Environment.
Commitment to Swift Execution
Alexander Renev, Rosatom’s chief engineer, affirmed their commitment to swift action, saying, “We will do everything to execute the construction of the nuclear power plant as quickly as possible,” without specifying a timeline.
Renev added that the location of the plant, taking security into consideration, would be discussed during the delegation’s visit, which concludes on Friday. This is a crucial factor in a country grappling with jihadist violence.
Addressing Burkina Faso’s Energy Deficit
By the end of 2020, only 22.5% of Burkina Faso’s population had access to electricity (67.4% in urban areas, 5.3% in rural areas), according to the African Development Bank (AfDB).
Minister Gouba emphasized the importance of nuclear energy in solving the country’s energy deficit, stating, “We want to use the nuclear solution to solve once and for all and in the long term the energy deficit that Burkina is experiencing.”
Current Energy Sources and Africa’s Nuclear Landscape
Burkina Faso currently imports a significant portion of its electricity from neighboring Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana, while also producing some locally, primarily through hydroelectric and solar power.
The African continent currently has only one nuclear power plant, located in South Africa at Koeberg, near Cape Town.