Saint Petersburg: A Burkinabe delegation led by Minister of Energy, Mines and Quarries, Yacouba Zabr© Gouba, conducted a technical visit to the Leningrad nuclear power plant in the Saint Petersburg region of Russia. This visit precedes a significant intergovernmental agreement between Burkina Faso and the Russian Federation regarding the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the visit, which took place under tight security, involved a meeting with officials from Rosatom, the Russian company specializing in nuclear power plant construction. Discussions were centered on the technological capabilities and services offered by Rosatom, which operates in 60 countries worldwide. The visit is a precursor to the scheduled signing on June 19 of an intergovernmental agreement focused on the peaceful exploitation of nuclear energy.
Rosatom's Acting Director, Valery Zhemchugov, highlighted that the company is the second-largest in the sector in terms of installed capacity. He emphasized the use of advanced third-generation nuclear technology, which, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), has a spotless safety record with no Level 2 incidents recorded. Zhemchugov noted that Rosatom's involvement spans construction and maintenance of nuclear plants, supply of spare parts, digital solutions, predictive analytics, and uranium enrichment.
The Leningrad site, comprising four units, contributed over 18% of Russia's domestic electricity production in 2024. Minister Gouba was presented with an operational unit for an immersive experience. He commended the cooperative relationship between Burkina Faso and Russia, underscoring regular exchanges between the presidents of both nations.
The visit was conducted under the guidance of the plant's acting chief engineer, Yuri Paklianov. It included a tour of the control room, turbine control workshop, water treatment buildings, and other key facilities. Minister Gouba was accompanied by a 12-person delegation, including the President of Burkina Faso's special envoy, the ambassador to Moscow, and other high-ranking officials.
The delegation arrived in Russia on June 17 to attend the 28th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, where the intergovernmental agreement is set to be signed. This agreement marks a pivotal step in Burkina Faso's efforts to diversify its energy sources and enhance its energy independence.
