In a strategic alliance forged in the corridors of international power and diplomacy, Burkina Faso’s military government has penned a groundbreaking agreement with Russia aimed at the construction of a nuclear power plant. A move to fortify electricity supplies in a region stunted by its perennial energy deficit, the deal signals a shift in Burkina Faso’s political manoeuvres to lean more heavily on Russia, as its ties with Western allies continue to falter.
Aligned within Russia’s sphere of influence since the junta seized control in the previous calendar year, this recent development serves to cement their alliance further. The deal’s inception can be traced back to a tête-à-tête between the ruling military Captain Ibrahim Traore and President Vladimir Putin in the sweltering month of July at the heralded Russia-Africa summit in Moscow.
Captain Traore wastes no time in candidly addressing his nation’s dire need for a homegrown energy solution. In his appeal to Putin, he underscored the strategic position of Burkina Faso, nestled in the heart of West Africa, and its potential to address not just internal energy depravity but also to potentially supply power to its electricity-starved neighbours.
Burkina Faso, mired in energy shortages with barely a fifth of its populace having access to power, is aiming to ramp up the energy accessibility to 95% in urban regions and 50% in rural areas by year 2030. The current energy state is sobering, with a significant chunk of the power generated from biofuels such as charcoal and wood, while oil products making up a third of the total supply.
In stark contrast to its ambition, the nation is fraught with a high electricity cost, one of the most expensive across the African continent. Yet, the African continent is seeing a marked shift towards nuclear power. South Africa, is presently the lone commercial nuclear power producer on the entire continent, but it seems the region is poised for a nuclear surge.
While Russia is aiding Egypt to construct a power plant with an immense budget of $30bn, there are deals in place with Nigeria for a similar undertaking. Even as countries like Kenya are blueprinting plans for their first nuclear plant in the coming years and Rwanda deciding on a partner for a reactor, it appears clear that Africa is seeking to redress its energy deficit with renewed vigour.
Despite a noticeable uptick in energy accessibility in this portion of Africa in recent times, more than half of sub-Saharan Africa’s populace is still navigating life without access to electricity. Burkina Faso’s venture into nuclear energy is not just a power-play at international politics, but a strategic move to catalyze regional development and pave the way towards a future less stricken by power outages.
