Faith Nyasuguta
A recent report by the Russian news outlet Sputnik has shed light on Algeria’s Ministry of Energy’s signing of a memorandum of cooperation with Russia’s state nuclear corporation, Rosatom.
According to Sputnik’s report, the ministerial communiqué indicates that the document outlines a “roadmap of joint activities for 2024 and 2025.” This likely includes aspects related to nuclear technology in medicine, research reactor applications, or pharmaceutical manufacturing.
The agreement was formalized during the Atomexpo-2024 Forum in Sirius, on Russia’s Black Sea coast. Yacouba Zabré Gouba, Burkina Faso’s Minister of Energy, Mines, and Quarries, recently disclosed his country’s engagement with Russia on a nuclear deal during an interview with Sputnik Africa at the International Forum on Nuclear Energy.
Rosatom’s interest in the African market stems from the continent’s economic potential, leading to engagements with countries like Mali, Burundi, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Zimbabwe.
Prof. Amon Murwira, Zimbabwe’s Minister of Education, Science, and Technology Development, emphasized the significance of collaboration with Russia to address power shortages. He highlighted the importance of training specialists to deploy small modular reactors and nuclear power plants.
‘We, of course, experience a lot of power shortages as we grow our economies,'” Prof. Amon Murwira said, speaking on the sidelines of Atomexpo-2024 in Sirius, Russia.
“So it’s a very important area that we are cooperating with the Russian Federation to make sure that we have trained enough specialists in order for us to be able to deploy small modular reactors as well as deploy nuclear power plants.”
In a similar vein, Egypt, in January 2024, finalized a nuclear energy deal with Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Egypt’s Abdel Fattah al-Sisi initiated work on the fourth unit of Egypt’s Dabaa nuclear power plant.
El-Sissi emphasized that El Dabaa would strengthen ties and contribute positively to Russian-Egyptian relations. The global energy crisis and supply chain challenges were cited as reasons for Egypt’s decision to revive its peaceful nuclear program.
El-Sissi highlighted the importance of nuclear energy in providing safe, cost-effective, and sustainable alternatives, reducing dependence on fossil fuels, and mitigating price fluctuations.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, addressing the ceremony through a video link, underscored Russia’s commitment to modern industries and collaborative efforts.
He described the El Dabaa project as a flagship endeavor reflecting the best traditions of bilateral cooperation. Putin mentioned ongoing communication with El-Sissi, discussing various matters, including the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
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