Niger to Construct Two 2,000-Megawatt Nuclear Reactors With Russia’s Rosatom

Niger is set to construct two 2,000-megawatt nuclear reactors and develop uranium deposits through a new partnership with Russia’s state-owned nuclear corporation, Rosatom.

Niamey’s Mining Minister, Ousmane Abarchi, announced the plans on the sidelines of the 2025 Global Atom Forum, held in Moscow on Thursday.

Please, let’s develop our uranium deposits together,” Reuters quoted the Minister as he told the nuclear forum in Moscow, adding, “Yes, we have big ambitions, but this is very important for us. This is very important for the entire African continent.”

Rosatom CEO Alexei Likhachev, present at the event alongside President Vladimir Putin, expressed keen interest in the proposals, indicating the potential for a significant collaboration that positions Niamey as a key player in the regional nuclear power landscape.

This strategic move by Niger further solidifies its long-standing commitment to a nuclear energy-powered economy, as Niamey, alongside Mali and Burkina Faso, is a major African country with which Russia is cultivating close ties, including in the security sector.

Following the announcement, Niger’s Minister of Mines also reiterated Niamey’s commitment to the supervision of the U.N. nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Similarly, President Putin, at the nuclear forum marking the 80th anniversary of the Russian nuclear industry, reiterated Moscow’s commitment to nuclear security.

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Mayowa Durosinmi

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M. Durosinmi is a West Africa Weekly investigative reporter covering Politics, Human Rights, Health, and Security in West Africa and the Sahel Region

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