Russia and Burkina Faso signed a major agreement on Thursday to deepen cooperation in the field of nuclear energy, as ties between the two countries continue to strengthen. The deal was formalized on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF).
The agreement, signed by Alexey Likhachev, CEO of Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom, and Burkina Faso’s Minister of Energy, Yacouba Zabré Gouba, builds on prior arrangements and includes plans for the construction of a nuclear power plant in Burkina Faso.
In a press release, Likhachev hailed the deal as a milestone in bilateral cooperation:
“The signing of this agreement marks an important milestone in strengthening the partnership between Russia and Burkina Faso.”
The foundation for the nuclear partnership was laid in July 2023, when Burkina Faso’s interim leader, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, attended the Russia-Africa Summit in St. Petersburg. During a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Traoré directly requested Moscow's assistance in constructing a nuclear power station.
“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. Our position is rather strategic because we are in the heart of West Africa and we have an energy deficit in the sub-region,” Traoré said at the time.
Since then, Rosatom and Burkina Faso's Ministry of Energy have signed several agreements covering nuclear infrastructure development and the training of technical personnel.
Currently, only about 20% of Burkina Faso’s population has access to the national electricity grid. The country heavily relies on biofuels—including wood, charcoal, and oil—for energy, contributing to high electricity costs and widespread energy insecurity.
The move toward nuclear energy is part of a broader shift by Burkina Faso’s military-led government, which came to power in a 2022 coup. Since then, the country has distanced itself from its former colonial power, France, and increasingly aligned with Russia and its regional allies in Mali and Niger.