Mali Military junta, Russia’s Rosatom ink historic nuclear energy deals

Mali‘s military government and Rosatom, Russia’s state nuclear corporation, have signed three agreements, exploring potential collaborations, including the development of a small-scale nuclear power plant designed by Russia.

This development is part of Rosatom’s ongoing efforts to expand its presence in Africa, where it has been actively seeking partnerships and strengthening ties with regional governments, particularly in the Sahel region, which has seen a shift away from traditional Western alliances following recent coups.

Rosatom announced that its representatives met with Mali’s junta leader, Assimi Goita, and other officials earlier this month to discuss various cooperation projects.

These included a potential Russian-designed nuclear power plant, solar power generation, and geological exploration projects, indicating a broadening of energy and economic ties between Russia and Mali’s military government.

Details of the agreement about the low-power nuclear plant were not disclosed, but Rosatom disclosed in a statement that “The parties agreed to continue maintaining close contacts and periodically coordinate positions as joint work progresses.”

The proposed project will add to the only operational nuclear power station on the African continent in South Africa, the Koeberg plant near Cape Town, although Rosatom is building another in Egypt.

Headquartered in Moscow, Rosatom specialises in nuclear energy, nuclear non-energy goods, and high-tech products.

It was founded in 2007 and comprises more than 350 enterprises, including scientific research organisations, a nuclear weapons complex, and the world’s only nuclear icebreaker fleet.