On October 13, Burkina Faso’s government signed a memorandum with Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom for the construction of a nuclear power plant in the West African country.
A memorandum of understanding for building a nuclear power plant in the African state, signed by the Burkinabe government and Rosatom, is aimed to foster development of nuclear power stations in Burkina Faso, the country’s Minister of Energy, Mining and Quarries Simon-Pierre Boussim told Sputnik Africa in an interview, calling the project “ambitious.”
According to the minister, the agreement was concluded “for the purpose of the development of nuclear power plants in Burkina Faso and in order to see to what extent we can use this energy peacefully to satisfy the needs of the Burkinabe population, in particular in terms of industry, medicine, agriculture, security, etc.”
Moreover, Boussim noted that along with Rosatom, the West African country is developing a partnership with the oil company Transneft and Inter RAO, which specializes in import-export of electricity.
“Indeed, the country needs autonomy and energy security,” the minister stressed.
Apart from Burkina Faso, Rosatom reinforces cooperation with other African states, including Zimbabwe and Burundi, with whom the company signed agreements on collaboration in the field of use of atomic energy for peaceful purposes.
In addition, a memorandum on cooperation was signed by the corporation’s subsidiary Russian nuclear fuel company TVEL and South African Nuclear Energy Corporation Nesca in the field of nuclear fuel production.
Russian President Vladimir Putin highlighted during his speech at the Russian Energy Week (REW) that the country’s nuclear industry and Rosatom, in particular, have no peer.
Renewable energy
Speaking about renewable energy, Boussim underlined that even if Burkina Faso “likes” the concept of it, “the first right is the right to life.”.
“If renewable energy is to complicate the future of our country, we will opt for fossil fuels,” he emphasized.
