Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom is in talks to build large nuclear power plants in Uganda, Ghana, Ethiopia and Egypt while advancing floating-plant discussions with four coastal nations, the Russian embassy in Kenya said on Monday.
“Russia and African countries are expanding cooperation in peaceful nuclear energy.” The Russian embassy in Kenya said.
Rosatom chief executive Alexei Likhachev told reporters that the company is discussing high-capacity projects with the four countries and that nine African states have shown significant interest in floating units, with detailed negotiations under way involving Egypt, Tanzania, Togo and Namibia, Reuters reported.
Egypt’s El Dabaa plant, already under construction, comprises four Russian VVER-1200 reactors totaling 4,800 megawatts. Russian President Vladimir Putin stated the project costs about $25 billion, of which $23.5 billion comes from long-term Russian loans covering roughly 85 percent of the expense.
Egypt will fund the remaining 15%. The loan carries an interest rate near 3% and is repayable over about 22 years after commissioning, with the first unit targeted for 2028 and full operation around 2030. Talks cover a possible expansion to six reactors.
Likhachev said, “Our partnership is based on the principle that Africa is diverse, and we have a tailored approach for each country that goes beyond a single project.” He noted that roughly 600 million of Africa’s 1.6 billion people lack electricity access.
Floating plants of about 100 megawatts would operate under power-purchase agreements, with servicing and refueling handled in Russia for up to 60 years. Only one commercial floating plant exists worldwide, Russia’s Akademik Lomonosov, operating since 2020.
Ghana is simultaneously negotiating with China National Nuclear Corporation for a 1,200-megawatt reactor and with NuScale Power for small modular reactors. Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa said Russia has agreed to work on a 2,000-megawatt plant, though no contract or financing details were released.
Uganda has contracted South Korea’s Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power for a 26-month site evaluation at Buyende while maintaining a separate cooperation roadmap with Rosatom for possible surveys at Nakasongola. Ethiopia signed a nuclear roadmap earlier and is preparing site surveys.
Africa currently operates only one commercial nuclear plant, South Africa’s Koeberg, built with French technology in the mid-1980s. The Russia-Africa Summit, attended by representatives of about 50 African countries, produced numerous bilateral documents, including nuclear cooperation memoranda.
No new binding construction contracts or full financing packages beyond El Dabaa were announced. Analysts note that multi-decade fuel-supply and loan obligations could create lasting dependencies, while host governments continue to solicit competing offers from Chinese, Korean, French and U.S. vendors.
