Keypoints:
- Ethiopia, Russia sign nuclear power plan
- Agreement includes training and roadmap
- Follows Niger and Egypt nuclear moves
ETHIOPIA has signed an action plan with Russia to develop and construct the country’s first nuclear power plant, according to Russian state news agency RIA, quoting Rosatom, the state-owned nuclear corporation. The deal, announced on September 26, 2025, marks a significant step in Addis Ababa’s push to diversify its energy mix and expand electricity access across the country.
Roadmap and training at heart of agreement
The agreement was signed at a nuclear power forum by Rosatom director-general Aleksei Likhachev and Ashebir Balcha, chief executive of the Ethiopian Electric Power Company. It sets out a roadmap to draft a detailed construction plan and to prepare the technical and economic foundations for the project. The document also envisages a future intergovernmental accord that will guide the project’s next phases.
Alongside the physical construction, the deal includes provisions for training Ethiopian staff to operate the plant and for developing the country’s wider nuclear sector. Ethiopian officials have long argued that nuclear power could help address chronic electricity shortages and support industrial growth.
Part of Africa’s broader nuclear push
The Ethiopia–Russia accord underscores a growing African interest in nuclear energy. Niger’s mining minister Ousmane Abarchi recently said his country aims to build two 2,000-megawatt reactors in partnership with Rosatom. Egypt, meanwhile, is constructing several reactors, while South Africa remains the only African nation with a functioning nuclear power station.
Analysts say Ethiopia’s move aligns with a wider trend of African states seeking alternative energy sources to meet soaring demand and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. However, financing, safety standards and long lead times remain key hurdles for nuclear power projects on the continent.
Russia, through Rosatom, has positioned itself as a key partner for countries pursuing nuclear ambitions, offering financing packages, technology and training. For Ethiopia, the deal signals a deepening of ties with Moscow as it looks to secure reliable, large-scale energy for its rapidly growing economy.
