Burkina Faso has officially signed the final administrative document of a historic intergovernmental nuclear deal with Russia, taking a significant step forward in its quest for nuclear energy.
- Burkina Faso finalized a significant intergovernmental nuclear agreement with Russia.
- The deal involves collaboration with Russia’s Rosatom to develop nuclear infrastructure for peaceful purposes.
- Burkina Faso seeks to enhance energy capacity and security through nuclear technology.
The agreement, managed by Russia’s state-owned atomic energy business Rosatom, paves the way for broad collaboration between the two nations in the construction of nuclear infrastructure for peaceful reasons.
Burkina Faso’s Minister of Energy, Yacouba Zabré Gouba, made the news during an interview with the Russian media source Sputnik.
“Many steps have already been taken, not only through the signing of a roadmap with Rosatom, but also through the conclusion of the four memoranda of understanding that we were able to finalize in 2024,” the minister stated.
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The agreement underscores Burkina Faso’s wider objective of diversifying its energy sources and meeting the country’s rising electricity demand.
Burkina Faso, one of the world’s least electrified countries, sees nuclear energy as a revolutionary chance to increase energy capacity and improve energy security.
“The signing opens new prospects for Burkina Faso and marks the end of several steps that had to be followed,” Gouba stated.
“So from now on, the way is open in terms of cooperation and the electronuclear program with the Russian Federation.”
This agreement is the final administrative stage in a larger framework of nuclear cooperation between Russia and the West African country.
It follows Russia’s approval last week of nuclear deals with Burkina Faso and Mali.
Burkina Faso and Mali’s nuclear deal with Russia
According to the provisions of the agreement, Russia authorized on the 12th of June, Rosatom will play an important role in supporting Burkina Faso and Mali with the building of nuclear power plants and research reactors.
The Russian nuclear agency will also offer critical services connected to the nuclear fuel cycle, such as nuclear fuel supply and waste management, putting Russia at the forefront of both country’s nuclear goals.
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“As I said earlier, this is a very important step forward, because these two countries have joined forces, and demonstrated their willingness to work together on collaboration, on cooperation, so that the electronuclear program becomes a reality in Burkina Faso,” Gouba said during his interview with Sputnik.
“We are waiting for the technical and financial offer from Rosatom, and this will later allow us to see whether we should continue with the electronuclear program,” he added.
For Russia, the agreement strengthens its position in Africa, particularly in francophone countries that are more aligned with Moscow.
Burkina Faso’s connections with Russia have grown dramatically over the last year, particularly in the security and energy sectors, as it swings away from conventional Western allies.
