Russia, Ethiopia Sign Accord to Develop Nuclear Power Plant

Rosatom main Aleksei Likhachev and Ethiopian Electric CEO Ashebir Balcha signed an statement to program Ethiopia’s archetypal atomic powerfulness plant. Credit: Kristina Kormilitsyna / Presidential Executive Office / CC BY 4.0

Russia and Ethiopia signed a papers connected Thursday to initiate preparations for a atomic powerfulness works successful Ethiopia. The statement was signed during a atomic assemblage forum by Rosatom manager wide Aleksei Likhachev and Ashebir Balcha, CEO of the Ethiopian Electric Company. Rosatom, Russia’s authorities atomic corporation, confirmed the deal.

Roadmap, training, and statement terms

The signed papers calls for the improvement of a elaborate operation program and a “road map” that outlines the project’s method and economical foundation. It besides includes a model for an intergovernmental statement to alteration the task to proceed. In addition, the statement provides for grooming of plant-operating unit and different measures to fortify Ethiopia’s atomic assemblage capabilities.

Ethiopia’s vigor landscape

Ethiopia contiguous relies heavy connected hydroelectric power, which dominates its energy procreation mix. Hydropower forms astir each of the country’s low-carbon energy output, with upwind and thermal sources making up a tiny fraction. Despite gains, little than fractional of the colonisation has accordant entree to the electrical grid.

Ethiopia has conscionable signed a game-changing woody with Russia to physique a atomic powerfulness plant.

The statement betwixt Rosatom and Ethiopian Electric Power was sealed during World Atomic Week successful Moscow, and it’s not conscionable talk.

It includes a elaborate operation plan, a method and… pic.twitter.com/g7PCBuerhq

— African Hub (@AfricanHub_) September 26, 2025

Recurring droughts and variability successful h2o levels airs risks to Ethiopia’s vigor security. These challenges person accrued involvement successful diversifying powerfulness sources, including atomic energy. In addition, Ethiopia is advancing different projects, specified arsenic geothermal plants (e.g., Tulu Moye), to grow its renewable portfolio.

Ethiopia besides precocious inaugurated the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), Africa’s largest hydroelectric facility, with a capableness to make astir 5,150 megawatts. The dam is intended to trim powerfulness deficits and enactment the export of energy to neighboring countries.

Russia’s atomic strategy crossed Africa

Russia—and specifically its atomic arm, Rosatom—has steadily expanded its beingness successful Africa done practice agreements with aggregate countries. In caller years, Rosatom has signed memoranda connected infrastructure, unit training, and atomic exertion transportation successful nations specified arsenic Burkina Faso, Mali, and others.

For example, Niger’s mining minister, Ousmane Abarchi, said his state seeks to physique 2 2,000-megawatt atomic reactors successful concern with Rosatom. He besides projected practice successful processing Niger’s uranium resources.

🚨Ethiopia 🇪🇹 and Russia 🇷🇺 person signed an statement to physique Ethiopia’s archetypal atomic powerfulness plant!
⚡ Clean & reliable energy
🌍 Sustainable development
📈 Industrial growth
🎓 Knowledge transfer
A historical measurement toward Africa’s vigor independence. 🌟#NuclearEnergy#AfricaPower pic.twitter.com/WZbvAStXKS

— Abdi 🇪🇹 (@Abdrezak1584333) September 25, 2025

In Egypt, Rosatom is gathering the El Dabaa atomic powerfulness works with 4 VVER-1200 reactors. The works is projected to person a full capableness of astir 4.8 gigawatts and play a large relation successful Egypt’s vigor supply.

So far, South Africa remains the lone African federation operating a atomic powerfulness plant. Outside of that, Egypt’s works is nether construction.

Challenges and outlook

Constructing a nuclear plant is simply a long, costly, and technically analyzable endeavor. Ethiopia volition request to negociate financing, regulatory frameworks, information protocols, and grid integration. Regional and planetary observers volition ticker however Ethiopia secures backing and partners.

If the task moves guardant successfully, it would people a large displacement successful Africa’s vigor landscape. Ethiopia offers a way toward diversifying its vigor premix and reducing vulnerability to hydropower fluctuations. For Russia, it reinforces atomic diplomacy arsenic a instrumentality for power connected the continent.

The statement betwixt Russia and Ethiopia is an aboriginal but important measurement successful what could go a semipermanent collaboration. Its progress, execution, and nationalist effect volition apt signifier however atomic vigor is viewed crossed Africa.