Niger and Ethiopia Advance Plans for Nuclear Power Plants with Russia's Rosatom

Ethiopia Formalizes Nuclear Power Project with Rosatom

Ethiopia has formalized an action plan with Russia's state nuclear energy corporation, Rosatom, to advance the development of a nuclear power project. The agreement was signed on Thursday, September 25, 2025, during a nuclear energy forum in Moscow. Key signatories included Aleksey Likhachev, Rosatom CEO, and Ashebir Balcha, CEO of Ethiopian Electric Power Company. Ethiopia's Foreign Minister Gedion Timotheos also exchanged the agreement with Likhachev in the presence of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The agreement outlines a comprehensive strategy, including:

• A detailed construction plan
• A 'roadmap' for the technical and economic foundation of the project
• An intergovernmental agreement to proceed
• Training of staff for plant operation and nuclear sector development

Ethiopia anticipates constructing two nuclear units, each with an approximate capacity of 1200 megawatts (MW), expected to be operational between 2032 and 2034. The nation is also considering smaller, more versatile Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed emphasized that while hydropower, solar, and wind have been crucial, they 'cannot power the future we are building,' highlighting nuclear energy's role in meeting growing energy demands and supporting clean energy development.

Niger Seeks 4,000 MW Nuclear Capacity and Uranium Development

Concurrently, Niger announced its intentions to build two nuclear reactors in partnership with Rosatom. Niger's Mining Minister, Ousmane Abarchi, made the announcement at the same Moscow nuclear forum on Thursday, September 25, 2025. Each reactor is projected to have a capacity of 2,000 MW, aiming for a total of 4,000 MW.

Minister Abarchi also proposed collaboration with Russia to develop Niger's significant uranium reserves. Niger was the eighth-largest producer of mined uranium globally in 2024, contributing approximately 5% of the world's output. This initiative builds on a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed in July 2025 between Rosatom and Niger's Ministry of Energy, which was part of a broader cooperation with the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) – Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. The MoU covers assistance in nuclear power plant construction, research reactors, fuel supplies, nuclear medicine, and specialist training.

Rosatom's Expanding Footprint in Africa

These agreements with Ethiopia and Niger underscore Rosatom's accelerating engagement across the African continent. Russian President Vladimir Putin affirmed Russia's commitment to fulfilling all nuclear contract obligations, irrespective of the political climate, and stressed the importance of ensuring nuclear safety and physical security in all projects. Both Ethiopia and Niger have stated that their nuclear projects will be developed under the oversight of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), emphasizing a commitment to international standards and peaceful use of nuclear technology.