Russia signs nuclear energy deal with African state

The agreement marks an important milestone in deepening ties between Moscow and Burkina Faso, Rosatom CEO Alexey Likhachev has said

Russia and Burkina Faso have formalized a deal to expand peaceful nuclear energy cooperation, including joint projects in radiation technologies and the training of specialists from the West African country.

The agreement was signed on Thursday by Alexey Likhachev, CEO of Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom, and Burkina Faso’s Energy Minister Yacouba Zabré Gouba on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF).

“The signing of this Agreement marks an important milestone in strengthening the partnership between Russia and Burkina Faso,” Likhachev stated, according to a Rosatom press release.

“We are ready to provide advanced technologies and expert support to implement joint projects aimed at sustainable development and enhancing the region’s energy security,” he added.

According to the statement, the new pact builds on a roadmap signed in March last year between Rosatom and Burkina Faso’s Ministry of Energy during the ATOMEXPO forum in Sochi.

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Key areas of cooperation outlined in the document include the development of Burkina Faso’s nuclear infrastructure in line with international standards, regulation of nuclear and radiation safety, and the use of radioisotopes in industry, medicine, and agriculture.

Moscow and Ouagadougou have been engaged in nuclear cooperation since 2023, following a request by Burkina Faso’s interim leader, Ibrahim Traore, to Russian President Vladimir Putin during the second Russia–Africa Summit in St. Petersburg.

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Last year, Rosatom representatives visited Burkina Faso to discuss plans for constructing a nuclear power plant in one of the world’s least electrified countries. The Sahel state had earlier signed an agreement with the Russian firm in October 2024 to build the facility.

NovaWind – the wind energy division of Rosatom – is also working with the government of neighboring Mali to build a 200-megawatt (MW) solar power plant near the capital, Bamako. Last year, NovaWind’s director, Grigory Nazarov, said the $217 million facility would boost the country’s electricity production by 10%.

Apart from striking its latest deal on peaceful nuclear cooperation with Burkina Faso, Moscow also announced last week the approval of similar agreements with Mali, which have yet to be formalized.