Burkina Faso has signed a landmark intergovernmental agreement with Russia to advance peaceful nuclear energy development, signaling a major shift in the West African nation’s energy strategy.
The deal was finalized on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), with Russian state nuclear agency Rosatom represented by its CEO Alexey Likhachev, and Burkina Faso’s Energy Minister Yacouba Zabré Gouba.
“The signing of this Agreement marks an important milestone in strengthening the partnership between Russia and Burkina Faso,” Likhachev said, adding that Rosatom is “ready to provide advanced technologies and expert support” to drive sustainable development and improve energy security in the region.
The agreement builds upon a roadmap signed in March 2024 and follows a series of previous memoranda between the two countries. It includes provisions for constructing nuclear infrastructure, developing regulatory systems for nuclear and radiation safety, and using nuclear technologies in medicine, agriculture, and industry.
Minister Gouba emphasized the transformative potential of the deal, stating: “The signing opens new prospects for Burkina Faso and marks the end of several steps that had to be followed. So from now on, the way is open in terms of cooperation and the electronuclear program with the Russian Federation.”
Burkina Faso, one of the world’s least electrified nations, sees nuclear power as a critical solution to its chronic energy shortages. The country has already agreed with Rosatom to build a nuclear power plant, and now awaits technical and financial proposals to determine the next phase of implementation.
For Russia, the agreement not only extends its nuclear diplomacy into Africa but also strengthens its influence in francophone nations that are increasingly shifting away from Western alliances. Similar pacts with Mali are expected to follow, reinforcing Moscow’s strategic foothold in the region.
