In recent years, Russia has demonstrated a marked increase in its interest in Africa’s nuclear sector.
- Rosatom, Russia’s state-owned nuclear corporation, holds about 70% of the global export market for new nuclear power plants
- Russia is increasingly interested in Africa’s nuclear power sector for strategic, economic, and geopolitical reasons
- African nations like Burkina Faso, Zimbabwe, Mali, and South Africa have signed agreements with Russian investors to develop nuclear energy programs
Russia’s growing interest in Africa’s nuclear sector reflects its ambitious move to expand geopolitical influence and position itself as a leader in addressing the continent’s energy challenges.
This surge in engagement is driven by a combination of strategic, economic, and geopolitical factors that align with Moscow’s broader aspirations to expand its influence globally.
Russia’s interest in Africa
By entering the African energy market, Russia seeks to position itself as a key partner in addressing the continent’s energy needs while simultaneously advancing its own interests.
However, these interests have spurred controversies as some nations have opposed Russia’s growing focus on the continent.
Many parts of Africa face unreliable electricity supplies, creating opportunities for Russia’s nuclear industry while allowing it to expand political influence on the continent, especially as its ties with the West deteriorate over the war in Ukraine.
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From an economic perspective, Africa’s energy deficit presents a significant opportunity for Russia.
Russia’s state-owned nuclear corporation, Rosatom, is a global leader in nuclear technology and sees Africa as a lucrative market.
Rosatom currently holds about 70% of the global export market for the construction of new nuclear power plants.
According to the conglomerate’s disclosures, its exports exceeded $10 billion in 2022, with a schedule of upcoming international orders amounting to about $200 billion over the next 10 years.
Africa’s power crisis
Many African nations face chronic power shortages, which hinder industrialization and economic growth.
From Rwanda, to South Africa, Nigeria and Uganda, these African nations have shown great resolve to key into Russia’s offers to expand their power generation capacity.
Nuclear energy offers a reliable, scalable, and long-term solution to these challenges, making it an attractive option for governments seeking to bridge their energy gaps.
Rosatom, the Russian state-owned company, has undertaken several projects and is in talks with various African nations to develop nuclear energy programs.
Some of these countries include:
Burkina Faso
In 2023, Burkina Faso signed an agreement to construct a nuclear power plant aimed at doubling electricity production by 2030 and meeting the population’s energy needs.
The deal was finalized during Russian Energy Week in Moscow, attended by Energy Minister Simon-Pierre Boussim.
Zimbabwe
In 2023, Zimbabwe signed an agreement with Russian investors to build small modular nuclear reactors to address power shortages, with plans to boost energy capacity from 2,600 MW to 4,000 MW by 2035.
The deal also aims to expand renewable energy sources like solar and wind, as power cuts persist for up to 18 hours.
Mali
In 2023, Mali signed three MoUs for nuclear cooperation, including a 200MW solar nuclear power plant.
Representatives from Russia’s Rosatom met with Mali’s transitional president to discuss ongoing projects, including the solar plant by Rosatom’s subsidiary, Novawind.
Algeria.
Algeria’s Ministry of Energy and Rosatom signed a 2024–2025 cooperation agreement on peaceful nuclear energy use during the Russia-Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum in St. Petersburg.
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The roadmap includes applications in health, radiotherapy, research reactors, pharmaceutical nuclear preparations, scientific training, and the development of nuclear technologies for peaceful purposes.
South Africa
In 2023, South Africa announced plans to build nuclear power stations to address its energy crisis, with completion expected by 2032 or 2033.
The opposition criticized the government for favoring Russia’s Rosatom, recalling a 2014 $76 billion deal with Russia annulled by a court in 2017.
Deputy director-general of nuclear energy, Zizamele Mbambo assured the new tender process would be open, transparent, and regulator-approved.
Zimbabwe
In 2023, Zimbabwe announced plans to work with the International Atomic Energy Agency and Russian investors to address chronic power shortages through nuclear energy.
The agreement was signed at the Russia-Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum in St. Petersburg
This agreement follows a memorandum of understanding concluded in September 2021.
Energy Minister Edgar Moyo stated the country aims to develop small, modular reactors and achieve 4,000 MW of power capacity by 2035, ending power cuts that can last up to 18 hours per day.
Ethiopia
Also on the sidelines of the forum, Russia and Ethiopia signed a roadmap for bilateral cooperation in the use of atomic energy for peaceful purposes.
According to Rosatom, The roadmap defines specific steps that the parties will take in 2023-2025 to explore the possibilities of building a nuclear power plant of large or small capacity, as well as a Nuclear Science and Technology Center in Ethiopia.
Rwanda
In 2019, Rwanda’s Ministry of Infrastructure signed a deal with Russia’s Rosatom to build nuclear power stations.
The memorandum, the first of its kind between the two countries, was signed in Moscow by Rosatom’s Nikolay Spasskiy and Rwanda’s ambassador Jeanne d’Arc Mujawamariya.
Rwanda also plans to rely on Russia to train its citizens in nuclear energy to boost its power supply.
Zambia
Following President Edgar Lungu’s directive to develop nuclear energy, Zambia and Russia signed four MoUs to make Zambia a hub for nuclear science in 2019.
The agreements, to be implemented over 15 years, include a cooperation deal between Russia’s Rostekhnadzor and Zambia’s Radiation Protection Service for nuclear safety regulation.
This partnership covers regulatory framework development, licensing, supervision, and training of radiation protection staff in Zambia.
Uganda
Uganda signed an agreement with Russia’s Rosatom at the 63rd IAEA General Conference held in 2019 to cooperate on nuclear infrastructure, radioisotope production, and education.
The deal includes building a Centre for Nuclear Science and Technology. Uganda plans to use its uranium deposits for nuclear power by 2050, despite slow progress with China’s 2018 nuclear agreement.
Guinea
In 2024, Guinea and Rosatom signed an MoU to develop floating power units to supply electricity.
Under a 2021 contract, Rosatom is providing four FPUs with 106 MW capacity each for the Baimsky Mining Plant.
The agreement focuses on using RITM-200 reactors to supply power to both industrial and domestic consumers in Guinea.
Burundi
Burundi and Russia signed a memorandum of cooperation on peaceful nuclear technology during the Russia-Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum in St. Petersburg.
The agreement covers nuclear infrastructure development, legal regulation, research, radioisotope production for industry, medicine, and agriculture, radiation technologies, nuclear medicine, and personnel training.
A joint coordination committee will be established for expert exchanges and the supply of equipment and materials.
Egypt
In 2015, Russia and Egypt concluded an intergovernmental agreement for Rosatom to build a $30-billion nuclear power plant near El Dabaa, west of Alexandria, featuring four 1.2-gigawatt VVER reactors.
The plant is expected to generate over 10% of Egypt’s electricity and power 20 million people.
In 2017, during President Putin’s visit to Cairo, the two countries signed a nuclear agreement, including the construction of a storage depot for spent nuclear fuel, which will be reprocessed in Russia. The first reactor’s test run was expected in 2022, with full commissioning in 2026, and the project completion anticipated by 2028 or 2029.
Morocco
In 2022, the Russian government confirmed an agreement with Morocco to support the construction of a nuclear plant.
According to the Russian TASS news agency, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin approved a draft agreement for nuclear energy cooperation between Moscow and Rabat, as published on the Official Portal of Legal Information.
Rosatom, Russia’s state-owned nuclear energy corporation, signed the agreement, pledging to assist Morocco in developing its nuclear energy infrastructure and designing and constructing nuclear reactors.
Nigeria
Russia and Nigeria began discussions in 2011 on an intergovernmental agreement for the design, construction, operation, and decommissioning of Nigeria’s first nuclear power plant. Nigeria selected Geregu in Kogi State and Itu in Akwa Ibom State as preferred sites to cover the Northern and Southern regions.
In 2019, Russia’s ROSATOM signed the first agreement with Nigeria to develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.
