State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom is expanding its operations in Africa. On the sidelines of Atomic Week 2025, Ethiopia and Niger invited the Russian company to take part in national nuclear construction projects.
Ousmane Abarchi, Niger’s Minister of Mines, announced that his country is developing a project to build two nuclear reactors with a combined capacity of 2 gigawatts. “This is Niger’s proposal to Rosatom. We are ready to develop this project jointly with Rosatom under IAEA supervision,” he said.
He also invited Russian companies to develop uranium deposits in Niger. The country ranks seventh worldwide in terms of uranium production. It produces 40,000 tons of uranium per year on average. Its proven uranium reserves total 500,000 tons.
“It has been posited that our planet’s uranium reserves will run out by 2080. However, new uranium deposits might get discovered in our country. So far, discovered uranium reserves amount to 500,000 tons. Still, they represent only 20% of Niger’s resource potential,” Ousmane Abarchi said.
Ethiopia has also received IAEA approval to build a nuclear power plant jointly with Rosatom. In July 2023, representatives of Russia and Ethiopia signed a roadmap to explore the feasibility of constructing large and small reactors. The document outlined specific steps the parties will take in 2023–2025 to explore the possibility of constructing an NPP and a Nuclear Science and Technology Center in Ethiopia.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali announced at World Atomic Week 2025 that his country is ready to enter into a partnership with Russia and join forces in the field of nuclear technology.
“We have secured support from the IAEA and drawn up a roadmap with Russia that includes developing nuclear infrastructure and training personnel,” he emphasized.
He also pointed out that Ethiopia needs nuclear energy more than any other country in the world. “Solar, wind and water give us a lot, but they alone cannot ensure our prosperity. We have a growing market, with a population of over 130 million. Nuclear energy is essential for development and for diversifying our energy mix,” he said.
Rosatom CEO Alexey Likhachev supported the construction of a nuclear power plant in Ethiopia. “Of course, we will do everything we can to meet the needs of Ethiopia’s growing economy and growing population when it comes to clean, sustainable energy,” he stressed.
