Burkina Faso expects to build a nuclear power plant in the country by 2030, said the county's Minister of Energy, Mining and Quarries Simon-Pierre Boussim, speaking at the Russian Energy Week on Thursday.
"Our plan is that if we can build nuclear power plants by 2030, we will thus solve the problem of energy shortage," the Minister stated.
According to the minister, Burkina Faso's industry needs this kind of energy and the country is already developing cooperation with Russian companies in the energy sector.
"We are already developing cooperation with our partners from Russia. And within the framework of this Russian Energy Week, we plan to take on obligations in order to see how to fill our energy deficit," the minister added.
Boussim noted that the country's current electricity needs are estimated at more than 500 MW, and could triple by 2030. He emphasized that, with current capabilities, the industry in the country will experience a delay of five to ten years in development.
"Our goal is to double our electricity production by 2030, which will allow us to industrialize Africa," the minister said.
Burkinabe media reported that Russia's nuclear corporation Rosatom and the Ministry of Energy of Burkina Faso are preparing to sign a memorandum of understanding on the construction of a nuclear power plant. The signing is expected take place on October 13, on the sidelines of Russian Energy Week.
Previously, the leader of Burkina Faso, Ibrahim Traore, told Russian President Vladimir Putin about the importance of developing nuclear energy in his country to meet its electricity needs.