Saint Petersburg: A Burkinabe delegation led by Yacouba Zabr© Gouba, Minister of Energy, Mines and Quarries, conducted a technical visit to the Leningrad nuclear power plant in the Saint Petersburg region, Russia. This visit occurred on the eve of an important intergovernmental agreement between Burkina Faso and the Russian Federation concerning the peaceful use of nuclear energy, as observed by an AIB journalist on site.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the delegation engaged in discussions with officials from Rosatom, a Russian company renowned for its expertise in nuclear power plant construction. These discussions focused on the technological capabilities and services offered by Rosatom, which operates in 60 countries and is the second largest operator in the nuclear sector by installed capacity. The visit precedes the signing of an intergovernmental agreement, scheduled for June 19, aimed at the peaceful exploitation of nuclear energy.
Rosatom Acting Director Valery Zhemchugov highlighted the company's advanced 3rd generation nuclear technology, which reportedly has never experienced a Level 2 incident, as per the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). He detailed Rosatom's involvement in nuclear power plant construction, maintenance, spare parts supply, digital solutions, predictive analytics, uranium mining, and enrichment. Zhemchugov emphasized that Rosatom's portfolio aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and complies with IAEA standards.
The Leningrad site, consisting of four units, contributed over 18% to Russia's domestic electricity production in 2024. Minister Gouba was given an operational tour of the plant, which included visits to the control room, turbine control workshop, water treatment buildings, cooling pools, emergency generator rooms, and administrative and technical buildings.
Minister Gouba praised the strong cooperative relations between Burkina Faso and the Russian Federation, citing regular exchanges between the leaders of the two nations. The delegation, which included Burkina Faso's ambassador to Moscow and other key officials, arrived in Russia on June 17 for the 28th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, during which the signing of the agreement is planned.
The visit and forthcoming agreement represent a significant step in Burkina Faso's efforts to diversify its energy sources and enhance its energy independence.