Burkina Faso: Signing of the memorandum concerning personnel training in nuclear energy industries

The cooperation between Burkina Faso and Russia is beginning to show signs of a fruitful partnership in the interest of both parties. On Wednesday, June 5, 2024, the Russian state-owned company Rosatom and the Ministry of Energy, Mines, and Quarries of Burkina Faso sealed a cooperation agreement in several areas aimed at developing nuclear technologies. The signed documents pertain to the education and training of personnel for the needs of the nuclear energy industry and its related sectors.

The documents in question define the framework conditions for interaction in these areas in the interest of developing the national program for the peaceful use of atomic energy. Specifically, measures are planned to strengthen human resources for the nuclear industry in Burkina Faso. Additionally, efforts will be made to enhance interaction between specialized educational institutions, including the organization of joint short-term educational programs, teacher training, and the development of educational and scientific literature.

This signing marks an important step in consolidating the process of constructing a nuclear power plant in Burkina Faso. It began in October 2023 with the signing of a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the field of the peaceful use of nuclear energy. Indeed, the cooperation between the state-owned company Rosatom and Burkina Faso was further solidified at the end of March 2024 with the signing of the roadmap, which constitutes the first memorandum.

Thus, two months after this training phase, the third memorandum marks progress towards the operationalization of this technology. This stage of building a nuclear power plant is the phase on which the people of Burkina Faso are pinning their hopes in the face of the ongoing energy crisis in the West African subregion.

Sadia Nyaoré