Rosatom International Partnerships and Market Agreements

🌍 Africa’s Nuclear Future: Who’s Ready, Who’s Catching Up, and Why It Matters Now Electricity demand in Africa is projected to grow nearly 7x by 2050, according to the IAEA. That growth won’t be met with renewables alone. Nuclear, especially small modular reactors (SMRs), is emerging as a serious contender in Africa’s long-term energy mix. But readiness varies widely, and time is quickly becoming the critical factor. 📊 A 2025 update by Energy for Growth Hub + Third Way maps out where things stand: ✅ Ready by 2030 Egypt: 4.8 GW El Dabaa project under construction, $28B, 85% financed by Rosatom South Africa: Africa’s only operational plant (Koeberg), exploring SMRs to replace coal, revived Pebble Bed program with local + Chinese partners 🟢 Potentially ready by 2030 Ghana: Working with both NuScale (SMRs) and CNNC, also in the U.S. FIRST program Kenya: Aims for first plant by 2034, CNNC MoU signed, exploring 100–300 MW SMRs Morocco: Research reactor, deals with Russia, China, and France, SMR feasibility underway Uganda: Buyende project backed by CNNC Algeria: Active roadmap with Russia, 2 research reactors Tunisia: Agreements signed but minimal progress 🟡 Potentially ready by 2050 Rwanda: Exploring SMRs and microreactors via Dual Fluid and NANO Nuclear Energy, ambitious, but still early stage ⚪ Not ranked due to conflict or paused projects Nigeria, Sudan, Mali, Burkina Faso, interest exists, but conditions remain unstable 🔍 Two major takeaways: 1️⃣ Russia is far ahead in nuclear diplomacy. Rosatom has signed agreements with at least 20 African countries, from Zimbabwe and Burundi to Ethiopia and Guinea. Most of these are early-stage, but they’re planting flags the U.S. hasn’t. 2️⃣ SMRs could change the game. Countries with smaller grids, water constraints, or limited capital are starting to take SMRs seriously. Designs that offer lower upfront costs, safer operation, and modular deployment could unlock a new era, but only if nations prepare today. 💡 This is tech readiness. It’s about infrastructure, regulation, financing models, and geopolitics. The 2030s will be decisive. The countries making moves now, with real partnerships, training programs, and project structuring, will be the first to benefit. Source: https://lnkd.in/dHP29cgn #AfricanEnergy #NuclearInAfrica #SMRs #AdvancedNuclear #EnergyTransitionAfrica #NuclearPower #CleanEnergyAfrica #NuclearDevelopment #IAEA #Rosatom #EnergyPolicy #GeopoliticsOfEnergy #EnergySecurity #InfrastructureDevelopment #GreenIndustrialization #ClimateSolutions #FutureOfEnergy #GlobalEnergyTrends #Africa2030 #CleanTechDeployment Image and statistics: Energy For Growth Hub

Russia’s Nuclear Deals in Africa: A 25-Year Lease or a Century-Long Commitment? We don’t talk enough about this—Russia is building nuclear power plants across Africa, and the stakes are generational. The Deal Structure Most Agreements Follow: * BOOT (Build-Own-Operate-Transfer): Russia funds, builds, owns, and runs the plant, then hands it over after ~25 years. * BOT (Build-Operate-Transfer): Russia builds and operates, but never owns. Where It’s Happening: 1. Egypt – El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant; a $30 billion project, and Rosatom funds 85% through a Russian state loan. Construction underway, completion expected by 2030. 2. Nigeria – Geregu Plant; $10 billion, BOT model, still in negotiation phase 3. Rwanda – Research nuclear facility MOU 4. Burkina Faso – New agreement signed in 2023 5. South Africa – Deal canceled in 2017 after court challenge Where’s the Money Coming From? Rosatom is state-backed, using Russia’s sovereign wealth, international financing arms, and diplomatic leverage. These aren’t just power deals—they’re geopolitical tools. What About Lifespan? The VVER-1200 reactors Russia installs are built for 60+ years, meaning even after a 25-year handoff, the country stays tied to Russian tech, parts, and engineers. But here’s the truth: Africa needs energy badly. 600 million Africans live without electricity. Nuclear offers a stable, clean, long-term solution. So the real question isn’t "should Africa go nuclear?" The real question is: Is Russia the right partner? And if not Russia, who else is stepping up? #AfricaPower #NuclearEnergy #Rosatom #EnergyDeals #AfricaDevelopment #BOOT #BOT #Geopolitics #EnergySovereignty #ElDabaa #RussiaInAfrica #PowerShift

I’ve been closely following developments in energy diplomacy, and the recent agreement between Russia and Myanmar to build a Small Modular Reactor (SMR) stands out as both strategically significant and deeply concerning. This March, Myanmar’s military leader Min Aung Hlaing met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, resulting in a memorandum to construct a 110 MW nuclear power plant—comprised of twin 55 MW reactors—developed by Russia’s state atomic company, Rosatom. The plan includes future expansion to 330 MW and a robust framework for nuclear safety training and infrastructure development. At face value, the project is pitched as a solution to chronic energy shortages and an opportunity for economic development. Russia promises “affordable and environmentally friendly energy” that could spur job creation and the development of a skilled workforce in Myanmar. But the broader context raises pressing questions. Myanmar has remained engulfed in an escalating conflict since the 2021 military coup, with millions displaced, widespread hunger, and systemic collapse of governance. These vulnerabilities expose the country to potential exploitation under the guise of “development.” Moreover, Myanmar lies on one of the world’s most seismically active fault lines. Pushing ahead with a nuclear facility—despite a recent 7.7-magnitude earthquake that killed thousands and severely damaged infrastructure—sparked significant safety concerns. Rosatom claims strict adherence to seismic standards, but independent assessment remains crucial. Finally, this agreement is part of a broader pattern of Russia deepening its foothold in Myanmar: joint infrastructure projects, growing economic ties, and strategic realignments that tie the regime more tightly to Moscow’s orbit—despite mounting international sanctions and accountability demands over human rights violations. For all the talk of energy security and modernization, the question remains: Is nuclear power—or any large-scale infrastructure under a military dictatorship—the right path forward? Without democratic oversight, transparency, or public consensus, such projects risk becoming instruments of geopolitical leverage rather than genuine development. #Myanmar #NuclearEnergy #Russia #EnergyPolicy #Geopolitics #ConflictZones #EthicalDevelopment #SMR #Accountability #HumanRights 🔗 Read the news here: https://lnkd.in/gNp8uAqU

📯☢️🇲🇱Mali wants to build a first nuclear reactor with the help of🇷🇺Russia. Agreements have been signed to strengthen the energy cooperation between the two countries. With the West losing influence in the Sahel, energy becomes a special tool in the hands of the Kremlin. A couple of weeks ago, a delegation from the Russian state-owned Rosatom travelled to Mali to finalise some important agreements with the Interim President Col of the Republic of Mali, Assimi Goïta. Reportedly, the parties held some negotiations over several projects the Russian company intends to realise in Mali. These include the construction of a Russian-designed low-power nuclear power plant in Mali. The parties did not share any detail about the project, which could also mean that the realisation is not close in time. But yet, the announcement is very significant, both from a political and an energy point of view. 🇷🇺Russia is expanding its presence in the Sahel, a region where the West, and🇫🇷France in particular, has suffered multiple setbacks during the last years. With the Russian Ministry of Defense taking control of Wagner’s mercenaries in Africa, renaming them Africa Corps, Russia is regaining lost influence in the continent, re-building ties lost after the demise of the USSR, but also creating new relationships. Mercenaries and instructors have been deployed in 🇳🇪Niger 🇧🇫Burkina Faso 🇱🇾Libya just some of the several countries in which🇷🇺Russian troops are now stationed with a long-term plan to train local armies, provide weapons and use territories as logistical hubs. But other than fighting jihadist insurgents that thrive in the desert and close to the borders of the Sahelian countries, thanks to the absence of sufficient territorial and aerial control, Africa Corps are also at the centre of Russian strategy to access natural resources. Wagner's and now Africa Corps' soldiers have been employed in protecting gold mining operations in the🇨🇫Central African Republic and🇸🇩Sudan, but also bauxite in🇬🇳Guinea and diamond operations in🇦🇴Angola. In Mali, they could serve to protect mining operations and logistics related to the extraction and transport of uranium at the Falea mine, where uranium is recovered together with copper and silver. Mali is just a minor player in the global uranium industry. Yet, other deposits have been discovered and new operations could start in the future. The project to build a nuclear reactor in Mali could determine a growing need to secure uranium supplies. Russia could provide the technologies to build the reactor and the ones required to the fuel-cycle, other than financial support and the security to mining operations.

Russian Company Intends to Build Several Nuclear Power Plants in Central Asia (part 2). The swift economic growth in Central Asian nations necessitates the establishment of new large-scale electricity generation facilities. Despite the region's abundant energy resources, including #hydrocarbons and #hydropower, recent developments suggest that the focus will shift towards advancing nuclear energy. On June 20, Rosatom and #Uzbekistan's Atomic Energy Agency under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan (Uzatom) signed an agreement at a forum in St. Petersburg to explore the feasibility of constructing a large-capacity nuclear power plant (NPP) in Uzbekistan. The initiative plans to build two power units of 1,000 MW each, with the option to expand to four units. When signing the agreement, Rosatom CEO Alexey Likhachev said #Russia would build “the best stations on the planet” in #Kazakhstan and #Uzbekistan. Such groundbreaking solutions did not emerge overnight; they culminated in extensive and profound collaboration between the Uzbek authorities and nuclear technology providers. In 2018, Uzbekistan and Russia formally agreed to build an NPP. This document outlined Uzbekistan's collaboration in designing, constructing, commissioning, operating, and decommissioning a plant featuring two power units. In May 2024, the parties agreed to initiate nuclear projects in Uzbekistan, starting with a small NPP. In the same month, Uzatom and Rosatom finalised a contract to develop a small NPP featuring six reactors, providing a total electrical capacity of 330 MW. However, it is reported that this might be reduced to two units, each capable of 55 MW, bringing the total to 110 MW. This proposed NPP will be located in the Tuzkan Lake area of the #Jizzakh region. In March 2025, Uzatom Director Azim Akhmedkhadjaev stated that Uzbekistan requires high-capacity nuclear power plants to satisfy electricity demand. "Considering the trends and volume of consumption that we see every year, then yes, we need to build large nuclear power plants," Akhmedkhadjaev stressed, noting that the estimated cost for a large-capacity NPP with two power units would be around $6 billion. At the end of May, the President of Uzbekistan met with all stakeholders to discuss establishing and constructing a large-capacity NPPs. At the end of April, Alexey Likhachev stated, "Not if, but when the leadership of Uzbekistan returns to the topic of a large nuclear power plant, we will already have proposals ready." Meanwhile, #Kyrgyzstan has decided to construct NPP on its territory due to a sharp rise in the electricity deficit. Currently, the country is working to determine the required capacity and location to construct a future NPP. In this case, Rosatom will be the closest to receiving a contract. Nuclear energy in Central Asia is gaining momentum and becoming a priority area for the region’s sustainable development.

Rosatom Selected as Lead Vendor for Kazakhstan’s First Nuclear Power Plant Kazakhstan has officially selected Russia’s Rosatom as the lead company in the international consortium to build its first nuclear power plant, according to a statement from the Kazakh Atomic Energy Agency released on June 14. The decision follows a multi-stage assessment process involving international experts, during which Kazakhstan engaged in open negotiations with four shortlisted vendors: Rosatom (Russia), CNNC (China), Électricité de France (France), and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (South Korea). The evaluation covered technical performance, financing schemes, localisation strategies, personnel training, and participation in the nuclear fuel cycle. According to the agency, Rosatom’s proposal was deemed the most optimal in terms of economic feasibility and project delivery. The analysis was conducted in collaboration with the French engineering firm Assystem and Kazakhstan’s national nuclear operator, using a methodology that integrated safety, technological maturity, cost structure, and international track record. CNNC ranked second, while EDF and KHNP shared third place. The Kazakh Atomic Energy Agency also confirmed that Rosatom has initiated discussions on securing state-backed export financing from Russia to support the project’s execution. The agency stressed that it will continue cooperating with international partners to establish a balanced, effective consortium for Kazakhstan’s nuclear development. The selected site for the plant is located near Lake Balkhash in Zhambyl District. The government has stated that the project is a strategic step toward stabilising electricity supply, ensuring long-term energy security, and meeting Kazakhstan’s carbon neutrality commitments. A final contract is expected to be concluded by the end of 2025.