St. Petersburg: Burkinabe Minister of Energy, Mines and Quarries Yacouba Zabr© Gouba and Director General of the Russian state corporation Rosatom Aleksei Likhachev signed an intergovernmental agreement on the peaceful use of nuclear energy in St. Petersburg on Thursday. The ceremony took place on the sidelines of the 28th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), a major event bringing together political and economic decision-makers from around the world.
According to Burkina Information Agency, this agreement marks a decisive step in energy cooperation between the two countries. It establishes a legal and technical framework for the implementation of the project to build a nuclear power plant in Burkina Faso, announced for 2023 to strengthen national energy security. Minister Yacouba Zabr© Gouba explained that the agreement will allow for the launch of a pre-feasibility study and the receipt of a technical and financial offer from the Russian side. This offer will be subject to internal analysis to guide Burkina Faso’s decision on implementing the nuclear power program. He added that the agreement also covers other areas such as nuclear medicine and agriculture.
Since intensifying their relations, Burkina Faso and Russia have increased their bilateral commitments. In October 2023, an initial memorandum of understanding was signed during Russian Energy Week in Moscow, followed in December 2023 by a technical agreement specifying the training of Burkinabe personnel, feasibility studies, and nuclear regulations. The agreement signed on June 19 formalizes these commitments by placing them within an intergovernmental framework. It defines the responsibilities of both parties, particularly in terms of financing, technological choices, skills transfer, and compliance with international nuclear safety standards.
For Burkina Faso, this partnership is of strategic importance. Civil nuclear power is seen as a sustainable solution to the energy deficit, an opportunity to diversify the energy mix, strengthen industrialization, and achieve energy sovereignty. Minister Gouba highlighted the political will displayed by the President of Faso, Captain Ibrahim Traor©, and his government to establish nuclear energy as a lever for sustainable development, in strict compliance with safety standards.
Rosatom, a Russian nuclear industry giant operating in over 60 countries, is showing growing interest in Africa. In addition to Burkina Faso, the company is already engaged in projects in Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa, and Rwanda. After signing the agreement, Minister Guba met with Rosatom officials to commend the efforts made so far and encourage them to continue in the same vein. He was accompanied by a delegation including the special envoy of the President of Faso, the Burkina Faso ambassador to Moscow Aristide Rapougdoudba Ludovic Tapsoba, the president’s special advisor on energy Nicolas Kagambega, the Director General of Energy Alidou Koutou, and the Director General of SONABEL, Souleymane Ou©draogo.
With this agreement, Burkina Faso takes a decisive step towards energy independence and confirms its commitment to building a nation resolutely focused on cutting-edge technologies for development.