Russia’s state-owned nuclear energy corporation Rosatom is discussing large nuclear power projects with Uganda, Ghana, Ethiopia and Egypt, although the proposals range from preliminary planning to the possible expansion of an existing plant, chief executive Alexei Likhachev said on October 30.

Likhachev spoke after the third Russia-Africa Summit in Moscow, which about 50 African countries attended, according to Reuters. No new construction contracts, financing packages or commissioning schedules were announced for the four countries’ proposed projects.

Uganda signed a cooperation roadmap establishing a working group to assess nuclear infrastructure and prepare possible engineering surveys at Nakasongola. The project is separate from Uganda’s proposed first nuclear plant at Buyende, where South Korea’s state-owned Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power is conducting site evaluations.

Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama confirmed discussions with Rosatom on October 29, identifying reliable electricity as essential for industrialisation. However, the talks do not establish that Russia has secured a contract or replaced technology partners already involved in the country’s nuclear programme.

Ghana previously selected state-owned China National Nuclear Corporation for a proposed 1,200-megawatt reactor, alongside US-listed nuclear technology developer NuScale Power (NYSE:SMR) and private US partner Regnum Technology Group for a separate small modular reactor project. Neither has secured a final construction contract.

Ethiopia signed a nuclear cooperation roadmap with Rosatom earlier this year. Likhachev said potential site selection was under way and preliminary engineering surveys could begin shortly. The proposed power station has not reached the construction or final investment decision stage.

Egypt is considering expanding its El Dabaa nuclear power station from four reactors to six. Rosatom is already constructing four 1,200-MW units with a combined planned capacity of 4,800 MW. Talks on two additional reactors began in August, but no expansion agreement or financing package has been announced.

Separately, nine African countries have expressed interest in Russian floating nuclear power units, with detailed discussions involving Egypt, Tanzania, Togo and Namibia. These proposals remain distinct from the large land-based projects. South Africa’s Koeberg station remains the continent’s only operating commercial nuclear power plant.

The El Dabaa project has faced scrutiny over construction quality. In a June letter reported by Politico in August, Egypt’s Nuclear Power Plants Authority accused Rosatom of defects in the foundation slabs of Units 1, 2 and 3 and of “deliberate negligence” by a project official. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi told Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin on October 28 that construction should proceed according to the agreed deadlines, with any timetable changes supported by approved technical justifications.

Other African governments are also pressing Moscow on nuclear power. Mali planned to ask Russia at the summit to fast-track a feasibility study for a Rosatom-built plant, the Sahel Tribune reported. Mali’s military government signed nuclear and solar agreements with Rosatom in 2024.

See IntelliNews: Ghana opens talks with Rosatom on first nuclear power plant
See IntelliNews: Egypt and Russia advance nuclear energy and industrial cooperation at Kremlin summit
See IntelliNews: Russian Rosatom in talks to add two more nuclear units to Egyptian El Dabaa plant
See IntelliNews: Egypt accuses Rosatom of structural defects and safety failures at its El Dabaa reactors
See IntelliNews: Mali to press Russia to speed up nuclear plant at Moscow summit