Abiy Ahmed backs Russian nuclear plant to diversify Ethiopia’s energy
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Fanamc
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed says cooperation with Russia to build Ethiopia’s first nuclear power plant would diversify the country’s energy supply and strengthen bilateral relations. He also stressed the need to train Ethiopian specialists and comply with International Atomic Energy Agency standards at the Russia-Africa summit in Moscow, according to Fanamc.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said cooperation with Russia to build Ethiopia’s first nuclear power plant should diversify the country’s energy mix and strengthen bilateral relations. He was speaking on Thursday 29 October in Moscow at the plenary session of the third Russia-Africa summit, according to the Fanamc news agency.
Ethiopia currently depends mainly on hydropower. Abiy Ahmed said the project should include training Ethiopian specialists able to operate and monitor the facility, as well as compliance with the safety standards of the International Atomic Energy Agency, the body responsible for the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
The Ethiopian prime minister also cited applications of nuclear science in reducing food losses and treating cancer. However, he announced no generation capacity, construction timetable or commissioning date.
Nuclear cooperation was already among the topics discussed by Abiy Ahmed and Vladimir Putin in Moscow on 29 October, alongside health and trade, according to reports on talks between Abiy Ahmed and Vladimir Putin. The Ethiopian prime minister also presented his political concept of Medemer as a bridge with Russia on the same day, according to the presentation of Medemer in Moscow.
