Russia Will Build Nuclear Power Plant in Mali
A photovoltaic power plant project and exploration work were also at the center of the talks in Bamako
Russian state nuclear energy company Rosatom and the Provisional Military Government of Mali signed three strategic cooperation agreements and discussed a project to build a Russian-designed small-capacity nuclear power plant. The Rosatom press release emphasized that in addition to outlining the main directions of the “strategic project for the construction of a nuclear power plant in Mali,” the delegation of the Russian energy company and the leader of the Provisional Military Government, Assimi Goita, discussed solar energy production projects. “The parties agreed to continue to maintain close contacts and periodically align positions in the course of joint work,” Rosatom said in a statement.
Rosatom is currently building a nuclear power plant in Egypt. In recent years, Russia has strengthened ties with many African countries that have distanced themselves from Europe and the USA, considered responsible for colonial atrocities. As part of the BRICS group of countries, Russia is seeking to restart a 9600-megawatt nuclear power mega-deal with South Africa that was blocked by a 2017 lawsuit during Jacob Zuma’s scandal-plagued, corruption-linked presidency.