The Military government in Mali and state-owned Russia’s nuclear company, Rosatom, have reached three cooperation deals and discussed projects which included the establishment of a Russian-designed low-power nuclear power plant, the firm announced on Wednesday.
Rosatom has been on an offensive in Africa for years, seeking to broker new business by signing cooperation agreements with countries across the continent.
Part of that push has included strengthening ties with juntas in West Africa’s Sahel region that have turned away from traditional Western allies since they seized power in coups since 2020.
Rosatom said in a statement that it had met the leader of Mali’s junta Assimi Goita on July 2 and 3.
It also held negotiations with junta officials responsible for the economy, energy and education.
In addition to discussing a “strategic project to build a Russian-designed low-power nuclear power plant in Mali,” junta officials and Rosatom talked about solar power generation and geological exploration projects, the statement said.
Rosatom did not give details about the proposed low-power nuclear power plant it is seeking to build in Mali.
“The parties agreed to continue maintaining close contacts and periodically coordinate positions as joint work progresses,” it said.
At the moment, the only operational nuclear power station on the African continent is in South Africa, the Koeberg plant near Cape Town.
Rosatom is also building another one in Egypt.
A mega 9,600 megawatt nuclear power deal between South Africa and Russia was thwarted by a court challenge in 2017 during former President Jacob Zuma’s scandal-plagued presidency.
