Energobyt: Burkina Faso is working on the construction of a nuclear power plant together with the Russian Federation

The Russian side has begun preparing a project for the first nuclear power plant in Burkina Faso, the Russian Embassy in the country told Izvestia. But there is no talk yet about the start of construction, Rosatom clarified. Despite the country's urgent need for energy, experts call the emergence of nuclear power plants a long-term prospect. Nevertheless, cooperation between the two countries goes far beyond nuclear technology. In the summer of 2026, an intergovernmental commission will begin its work, which can deal with projects in the field of security and agriculture.

Nuclear power plant project in Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso, with a population of almost 25 million people, is experiencing a systemic shortage of energy resources. Against this background, the country would like to build a new nuclear power plant with the help of the Russian Federation by 2030, the republic's ambassador to the Russian Federation Aristide Tapsoba said earlier.

"Rosatom State Corporation has started implementing the preparatory part of a project to build a nuclear power plant in this country," the Russian Embassy in Burkina Faso told Izvestia.

Photo: RIA Novosti/Evgeny Biyatov

Nevertheless, it is premature to talk about the start of construction of a nuclear power plant, Rosatom explained.

— The parties are currently exploring the possibility of implementing the NPP project. The priority is to create a reliable regulatory framework for the development of peaceful atom. An important milestone on this path was the signing on June 19, 2025 of the framework intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in the field of peaceful uses of atomic energy," the state corporation noted.

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That is, so far we are talking only about the most preliminary preparatory work: we need to prepare regulations, negotiate with the IAEA, and create a human resource base in Burkina Faso, which is what the Russian state corporation is currently doing, Vsevolod Sviridov, deputy director of the HSE Center for African Studies, explained to Izvestia. This year, the first student from Burkina Faso started studying in Russia under the Rosatom quota, and next year, six places are provided. Overall, more than 400 students from African countries are currently studying in Russia, which will form the backbone of the continent's nuclear industry in the future.

Photo: IZVESTIA/Anna Selina

Today, only a little over 20% of the country's population has access to electricity, and its own generation, estimated at a modest 420 MW, is heavily dependent on expensive imports of fuel oil, diesel and supplies from neighboring Ghana. The appearance of even one low-power station can radically change the situation.

If we take the typical 85-90% utilization rate for nuclear generation, then 300 MW of capacity will produce twice the current output of Burkina Faso. It is worth noting that 420 MW is an established potential, and not a real year—round production. Due to expensive fuel and import restrictions, a significant part of this capacity operates at a low load, while the 300 MW nuclear unit provides a stable large amount of energy per year.

Other areas of cooperation

In February, Burkina Faso's Foreign Minister Karamoko Jean-Marie Traore visited Moscow and held talks with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov. Then, in particular, it was decided to hold a meeting of the intergovernmental commission on trade and economic cooperation. It should become a "working mechanism" that ensures the implementation of agreements in the economy.

— During the visit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Burkina Faso, Karamoko Traore, to Moscow on February 12-13, 2026, agreements were reached to hold an IPC meeting in the summer of 2026. The parties have begun forming national parts of the commission," the Russian Embassy said.

Photo: TASS/Sergey Karpukhin

Cooperation with Burkina Faso is also being implemented at the level of Russian regions: the Russian language and culture are actively promoted in the country, the diplomatic mission said.

For example, last year an agreement was signed to establish twinning relations between Novosibirsk and Ouagadougou, and with the assistance of the South Ural State Humanitarian Pedagogical University (SUSGPU), a Russian Language Center was opened in the capital of Burkina Faso.

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The country is interested in developing cooperation in such areas as security, agriculture, healthcare and education. At the same time, Burkina Faso has something to offer the Russian side, in particular, gold mining projects.