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Ethiopian Minister Talks Russia's Role in Country's Nuclear Power Journey

© AP Photo / Aksana ManchukIn this Friday, Aug. 7, 2020 file photo, personnel work to begin loading nuclear fuel at Belarus' first nuclear plant which was built by Russia's state nuclear corporation Rosatom, near Astravets, Belarus.
In this Friday, Aug. 7, 2020 file photo, personnel work to begin loading nuclear fuel at Belarus' first nuclear plant which was built by Russia's state nuclear corporation Rosatom, near Astravets, Belarus.  - Sputnik Africa, 1920, 23.12.2023
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Earlier this week, the Russian-Ethiopian intergovernmental commission on economic, scientific, technical and trade cooperation convened in Addis Ababa. Following the event, Sputnik Africa sat down with the co-chair from the Ethiopian side to discuss trade and economic relations between Moscow and Addis Ababa at the current stage.
The two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) signed between Russia and Ethiopia in 2021 have laid the foundation for further cooperation in the field of nuclear energy development in the East African country, Dr. Belete Molla, Ethiopia's Minister of Innovation and Technology, told Sputnik Africa in an exclusive interview.
In 2021, Russia and Ethiopia signed two memorandums of understanding on cooperation in peaceful nuclear energy applications. The MoUs aimed to establish a nuclear education and training program in Ethiopia, which may include the establishment of a nuclear science and technology center in Ethiopia.

"The MoUs laid the groundwork for further cooperation. In July 2023, Russia and Ethiopia signed a roadmap for developing cooperation in peaceful nuclear energy. This roadmap outlines specific steps for exploring the feasibility of building a nuclear power plant in Ethiopia, as well as establishing a nuclear science and technology center," Minister Molla said.

The Ethiopian official also noted that the MoUs also focus on promoting public understanding and acceptance of nuclear energy in the country, as well as addressing concerns and misinformation over the use of nuclear energy.
A Lada Vesta SW car at the AvtoVAZ stand at the Innoprom International Industrial Exhibition in Tashkent. - Sputnik Africa, 1920, 23.12.2023
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Molla added that both Moscow and Addis Ababa have held technical tours and seminars to "exchange knowledge and expertise in nuclear technology."
"Specialized working groups have been established to discuss the technical aspects of implementing the MoUs," the minister told Sputnik Africa.
As Africa actively explores nuclear power to meet its growing energy needs, Russia, represented by the state corporation Rosatom, which specializes in nuclear energy and high-tech products, has emerged as a key player, spearheading various nuclear power projects across the continent.
In recent years, Rosatom has signed MoUs with several African countries, including Ethiopia, Sudan, Zimbabwe, and most recently, Burkina Faso. Rosatom's flagship project in Africa is located in Egypt and it's a 4800 megawatt nuclear power plant called El Dabaa NPP, which is currently under construction.
Earlier this month, Alexey Kononenko, vice president of Atomstroyexport, the managing company of Rosatom's engineering division, described the African continent as a "promising region" where Russia has "great prospects and a wide horizon for the construction of nuclear power plants". He said, "We are ready to provide the full range of services and all our knowledge and expertise in this field."
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