Energy Boost: Russia develops nuclear cooperation with 21st African country
The number of Russian Federation's African partners in nuclear cooperation will exceed two dozen. An agreement with Djibouti will be signed at the Russia—Africa summit in October, Izvestia found out. The country is opening the way to the Red Sea, and Moscow intends to strengthen transport and logistics ties in the region. Large military bases of Western countries are already concentrated in small Djibouti near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Moscow is also expanding its diplomatic presence to work with new states. Embassies in the Gambia, Togo and the Comoros are already preparing to open, the Russian Foreign Ministry told Izvestia.
Why is Russia strengthening cooperation with Djibouti
Russia is exponentially increasing its partnership with African countries in the field of peaceful nuclear energy. This time, it is planned to launch cooperation with Djibouti. The parties want to sign a memorandum on peaceful atom at the third Russia—Africa summit in October 2026, the Russian Embassy in Djibouti told Izvestia.
"The issue of signing a Memorandum of Understanding between the State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom (Russian Federation) and the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources of the Republic of Djibouti on cooperation in the field of peaceful uses of atomic energy is being coordinated with the Djibouti side on the sidelines of the third Russia—Africa summit," the diplomatic mission said.
Izvestia contacted Rosatom for comment. Today, the company is already developing cooperation with 20 African countries. The document with Djibouti will describe in detail exactly in which areas the parties plan to work together, Vsevolod Sviridov, an expert at the HSE Center for African Studies, explained to Izvestia. But it is hardly worth waiting for the start of negotiations on the construction of a nuclear power plant in Djibouti. So far, the demand for electricity in this country is not so high, unlike in neighboring Ethiopia.
"Since the nuclear industry is multifaceted, there may be more prospects for cooperation in the fields of medicine, agriculture and just in the scientific field,— Sviridov explained.
In the field of healthcare, for example, the peaceful atom allows for the development of early diagnosis and treatment of oncological diseases, as well as the creation of modern nuclear medicine centers. Education will not be spared either. After signing the memorandum, Africans will probably be sent to Russian universities to study in nuclear specialties.
The geographical location of Djibouti is of particular importance to Russia. The Bab el-Mandeb Strait is one of the key hubs of global maritime trade, which connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. A significant part of the world's cargo flows pass through it, including energy supplies between Europe and Asia. Thus, it would be good for Russia to strengthen its influence in a strategically important region, especially against the background of the crisis over the Strait of Hormuz.
Besides, if Rosatom starts building nuclear power plants in Ethiopia, it will be convenient to supply the equipment through Djibouti, Vsevolod Sviridov believes.
Recently, Russian business delegations have repeatedly visited Djibouti to get acquainted with the transport, logistics and port infrastructure, as well as the possibilities of the free economic zone, the Russian Embassy in the country said. The Djibouti Damerjog Industrial Park, the Dorale multipurpose Port and the old port of Djibouti attracted special attention. And although it has not yet been possible to reach specific projects, the interest of both sides remains.
"The management of the Djibouti—Damerjog Industrial Park has recently sent proposals for cooperation to a number of large Russian oil, petrochemical and agricultural companies, which are currently being studied," the embassy said.
The diplomats summarized that among the most promising areas for partnership are the transport and logistics sector, energy, agriculture and fisheries. However, Russia faces serious rivals in the struggle for influence in the region. First of all, this is China, which has invested heavily in the country in recent years and opened its first permanent foreign military base here about 10 years ago, Maya Nikolskaya, head of the Africa in the Focus of Russian Interests program at MGIMO, tells Izvestia.
Surprisingly, a whole scattering of military bases is located on a small territory of the country — the largest American in Africa, European countries and even the only foreign military base of Japan. The idea of creating a Russian naval base was also discussed, but in the end it was abandoned. The parties could not agree on the terms of placement — the base would require significant financial costs with very questionable practical benefits, the expert said. Obviously, in the case of Djibouti, the Russian Federation relies on economic cooperation.
Russia is ready to open new embassies in Africa
Thus, Djibouti will become another African country with which Rosatom will develop cooperation in the field of peaceful atom. Currently, the state corporation's assets include Algeria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Ghana, Egypt, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Mali, Morocco, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, the Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia and South Africa.
El-Dabaa NPP construction site
The largest Russian nuclear project in Africa is the construction of the El—Dabaa nuclear power plant in Egypt. However, cooperation is not limited to the construction of nuclear power plants. For example, Tanzania and Namibia are preparing to start mining uranium, and Rosatom supplied nuclear fuel to South Africa, Vsevolod Sviridov says. There are many active projects, but many of them are in the preparatory stage. "It is important to bring the initiatives that have already been launched and continue systematic work to prepare other African countries for the development of the nuclear industry," the expert explained. Unsurprisingly, Russia faces competition from companies from China, South Korea, Japan, and the United States in its policy, but Rosatom is trying to maintain its leadership.
The state corporation considers Africa as a promising market in which the demand for electricity will grow in the coming decades, and the industry will be in dire need of new energy sources. The fruits of the current work will be visible in 20-30 years. Rosatom is actively assisted by the Russian Foreign Ministry, which is expanding its diplomatic presence in Africa. Preparations for the opening of Russian embassies in the Gambia, Togo and the Comoros are now being completed, the ministry told Izvestia. Only technical issues remain to be resolved.
"The process of opening Russian diplomatic missions in the Gambia, Togo and the Comoros is at a fairly advanced stage — the relevant orders of the Russian government have already been adopted," the ministry said.
Over the past three years alone, embassies have been opened on the continent in Burkina Faso and Equatorial Guinea, South Sudan, Sierra Leone and Niger, and a consulate general has also been established in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.
The new embassies will help the Russian Federation to develop cooperation with African countries faster. They will facilitate the work of Russian companies, participate in the preparation of new agreements and support trade and economic projects. This is especially important for Rosatom, since it is with interstate agreements that the implementation of major projects in the field of peaceful atom usually begins.
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