Toba Owojaiye Reporting
It’s not all gloomy in Burkina Faso. In a pivotal development, the military junta has formalized an agreement with Russia to build a nuclear power plant, signifying a major stride in bolstering the nation’s electricity capacity.
The accord was the outcome of discussions between Ibrahim Traore, the junta leader, and Russian President Vladimir Putin, which transpired during the Russia-Africa summit in July.
Acknowledging Burkina Faso’s urgent energy requirements, Traore sought Putin’s backing for the establishment of a nuclear power facility within the country.
He emphasized the paramount significance of this endeavor in addressing the nation’s surging energy demands, asserting, “We have a critical need for energy.
This is an important point for me because we need, if possible, to construct a nuclear power station in Burkina Faso for electricity generation.”
Burkina Faso’s strategic location in the heart of West Africa places it at the forefront of efforts to combat the energy deficit plaguing the sub-region.
The military junta took power on September 30, 2022, in response to mounting dissatisfaction over the government’s inability to quell a persistent jihadist insurgency that infiltrated the country from neighboring Mali in 2015.
Consequently, the junta has turned to Russia for both economic and military support since the coup.
Burkina Faso grapples with one of the lowest rates of electricity access globally, with only 21 percent of its population presently connected to the grid.
The newly forged partnership aligns with the nation’s goal of achieving 95 percent electricity access in urban areas and 50 percent in rural regions by 2030.
It’s worth noting that in 2017, Russia also signed an agreement to construct two nuclear power plants in Nigeria.
However, this project has yet to commence, and the reported value of the deal stands at $20 billion.
Presently, South Africa stands as the sole African nation producing nuclear power on a commercial scale, making this venture a significant milestone in Burkina Faso’s pursuit of energy self-sufficiency and economic growth.
This deal would have not been possible under the former “French first “ ties and signifies a better trading deal for Burkina Faso.