Alexander Ignatyuk, analyst of Energocapital IC

– Nigeria is rich in uranium and may become supplier of fuel for both Russian NPPs and Rosatom’s foreign projects

There have been both positive and negative moments in Russia’s cooperation with African states. We must understand what African countries need from Rosatom and what they can give to our nuclear industry.

First of all, African states need cheap and safe energy and our program for NPP construction abroad can well be applied here. The key potential partner here is Egypt. Russia has quite strong positions in its negotiations with the Egyptian authorities: our countries enjoy long-standing political and economic relations. In other words, we will hardly face the same situation as we did in South African Republic, where we were opposed by a strong pro-French political lobby.

Russia’s support of Egypt in the Middle East peace process is one more circumstance that gives us certain advantage in these talks. Our partners should understand that the Russians in Africa are creators, guarantors of stability and development, that they bring technologies and are always ready for dialogue and cooperation.

Nigeria is another good Russia’s partner in Africa. That country is rich in uranium and may become supplier of fuel for both Russian NPPs and Rosatom’s foreign projects. In its turn, Russia can provide Nigeria with nuclear technologies and help that country to develop its nuclear infrastructure.

So, we can say that the negotiations that are being held in the framework of the Russian President’s visit to Africa are just the beginning of active Russian-African cooperation in the field of peaceful use of nuclear energy.