Russia Set to Build Nuclear Power Plant in Burkina Faso

Russia has signed a deal with Burkina Faso to build a nuclear power plant to increase electricity supplies, BBC reports.

“The government of Burkina Faso has signed a memorandum of understanding for the construction of a nuclear power plant,” it said in a press release.

It is the junta’s latest move to align itself with Russia after falling out with most of its Western partners.

The junta has turned to Russia for economic and military support since it seized power last year.

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Burkina Faso is one of the least electrified countries globally, with only 21% of people connected to power.

The new deal with Russia is a culmination of talks the Burkinabe military ruler, Capt Ibrahim Traore, had with Russian President Vladimir Putin in July during the Russia-Africa summit in Moscow.

Capt Traore requested President Putin’s support in setting up a nuclear power plant in Burkina Faso, which he said would help meet the country’s energy demands and those of neighbouring countries.

The new deal with Russia is a culmination of talks the Burkinabe military ruler, Capt Ibrahim Traore, had with Russian President Vladimir Putin in July during the Russia-Africa summit in Moscow.

Capt Traore requested President Putin’s support in setting up a nuclear power plant in Burkina Faso, which he said would help meet the country’s energy demands and those of neighbouring 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 was quoted as saying at the time.

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“Our position is rather strategic because we are in the heart of West Africa and we have an energy deficit in the sub-region.”

The deal is part of Burkina Faso’s target to achieve 95% electricity access for urban areas and 50% for rural areas by 2030.

Burkina Faso gets most of its electricity from biofuels like charcoal and wood while oil products account for one-third of the total energy supply, according to the International Energy Agency.