FROM EIR DAILY ALERT

Russia Exhibits Greater Interest in Africa, Starts Plans To Train More Nigerians in Nuclear Energy

Jan. 31, 2019 (EIRNS)—The Chief Executive Officer of Rosatom for Central and Southern Africa Dmitry Shornikov has announced the company’s intention to train more Nigerians in the safe use of nuclear technology earlier this month. The Nigerian government has recently signed an agreement with Russia for the construction of nuclear power plants and a nuclear research center in Nigeria. Shornikov further stated that the scheme was a great opportunity for scientists and engineers based in Sub-Saharan Africa, as well as for students who made progress in mathematics and the sciences, and who want to apply to study courses in nuclear specialties, This Day reported yesterday.

Last April, East African Business Week of Kampala, Uganda, reported that Ethiopia and Russia had reached an agreement to develop nuclear energy collaboratively. That news came just weeks after Russian authorities had written off $162 million of Ethiopian debt. Beside Nigeria and Ethiopia, Rosatom has said it has concluded nuclear power memoranda of understanding with Egypt, Kenya, Sudan and Zambia. Uganda is also on the list.

Of the countries with Rosatom agreements, only Egypt has any concrete plans in place. A site for a 4.8GW nuclear plant has been identified at El Dabaa, on the Mediterranean Sea, and building is expected to start soon. In the other countries, the location and scale of the projects have yet to be determined.