In a significant development, the military leaders of Burkina Faso have entered into an agreement with Russia to construct a nuclear power plant with the aim of bolstering the country’s electricity supply, according to a report by BBC.
The Burkinabe government formally announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding for the establishment of a nuclear power facility. This move underscores the junta’s growing alignment with Russia, following a series of rifts with many of its Western partners.
Since assuming power in a coup in the previous year, the junta has increasingly turned to Russia for both economic and military support.
Burkina Faso currently ranks among the countries with the lowest electrification rates globally, with merely 21% of its population having access to electricity.
The agreement with Russia represents the culmination of discussions held between the Burkinabe military ruler, Capt Ibrahim Traore, and Russian President Vladimir Putin in July during the Russia-Africa summit in Moscow. At that time, Capt Traore had sought President Putin’s assistance in establishing a nuclear power plant in Burkina Faso to address the nation’s energy needs, as well as those of its neighboring countries.
“We have a critical need for energy. This is an important point for me because we need, if possible, to build a nuclear power station in Burkina Faso to produce electricity,” he stated during the discussions. “Our position is rather strategic because we are in the heart of West Africa and we have an energy deficit in the sub-region.”
This deal aligns with Burkina Faso’s ambitious target to achieve 95% electricity access for urban areas and 50% for rural areas by 2030.
Currently, Burkina Faso primarily relies on biofuels like charcoal and wood for its electricity generation, with oil products accounting for a third of its overall energy supply, as reported by the International Energy Agency. According to the US development agency USAid, Burkina Faso grapples with one of the highest electricity costs in Africa.
While South Africa is presently the sole African nation to produce nuclear power for commercial use, more African nations are increasingly exploring this option. Russia is already involved in assisting Egypt in constructing a nuclear power plant, a project valued at $30 billion (£24 billion) under an agreement signed by Presidents Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Vladimir Putin in 2017.
In the same year, Russia inked a deal to construct power plants in Nigeria, although the project is yet to commence. Kenya has also unveiled plans to establish its first nuclear power plant by 2027, although the choice of an international partner is yet to be determined.
Notably, Capt Traore has maintained his rule over Burkina Faso since seizing power in September 2022.