Burkina Faso and Russia have signed a joint agreement to build a peaceful nuclear power plant, on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.
The agreement was signed by Burkina Faso’s Minister of Energy and Mines, Yakouba Zabré Gouba, and the CEO of Russian nuclear agency Rosatom, Alexey Likhachev, marking a significant step forward in bilateral cooperation on civilian nuclear energy.
Minister Gouba described the deal as “a key milestone in the administrative process toward building the plant,” adding that Rosatom will soon present a technical and financial proposal to be reviewed by the government ahead of formal negotiations.
Rosatom stated that it could complete construction of a nuclear unit in Burkina Faso within five years, provided all technical, regulatory, and human capacity conditions are met.
The project is part of Burkina Faso’s broader strategy to diversify its energy sources. The country faces a severe electricity shortage, with coverage reaching less than 25% of the population, according to recent statistics.
Transitional President Ibrahim Traoré had already announced in July 2023 the country’s intention to cooperate with Russia on nuclear energy, as part of a broader geopolitical pivot away from France, its traditional partner.
Rosatom, which will lead the project, has extensive experience in the field. The company is currently building the El-Dabaa nuclear plant in Egypt and is involved in similar projects in Hungary and Morocco.
