CAIRO, Oct 28 – Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom is in advanced discussions with four African countries over the potential deployment of floating nuclear power plants, as the company seeks to expand its presence in the continent’s energy market.
Rosatom Chief Executive Alexei Likhachev told reporters on Wednesday at a Russia-Africa Summit that the countries involved are Egypt, Togo, Namibia and Tanzania.
The discussions come as African governments seek to expand electricity generation capacity and diversify energy sources. Rosatom is proposing floating nuclear power units as an option for coastal countries that want to add generation capacity without building all the supporting infrastructure associated with conventional nuclear power plants.
Vladimir Aptekarev, deputy head of Rosatom’s machine-building division, said 38 of Africa’s more than 50 countries have sufficient coastline to accommodate a Russian-built floating power unit, according to Reuters.
“As a first step, a floating nuclear power unit can serve as a good entry point, enabling a country both to address its energy needs and to join the nuclear club,” Aptekarev said.
Rosatom Offers 100 MW Floating Reactors
For international markets, Rosatom is offering floating power units with a capacity of 100 megawatts, equipped with RITM-200M reactors adapted for warm climates.
Floating nuclear power plants use smaller reactors housed within vessels that can be towed to their destinations. The model can reduce the amount of infrastructure required on land and potentially accelerate the deployment of new electricity generation capacity.
Only one floating nuclear power plant is currently operating globally, according to the report: a Russian facility in the remote Chukotka region that began operating in 2020.
Rosatom is proposing to deliver projects under power purchase agreements (PPAs), through which electricity would be supplied under contractual arrangements. Servicing and refuelling would take place in Russia, with the company proposing an operating life of up to 60 years for the units.
“With this source of electricity, we are effectively addressing all the key issues and challenges facing the African continent,” Aptekarev said.
The commercial model could allow participating countries to purchase electricity from the plants rather than independently developing all aspects of a nuclear generation programme. However, the proposed projects would still require country-specific agreements and arrangements for deployment, regulation, safety and grid integration.
Egypt Discussions Coincide With Existing Nuclear Project
Egypt is already working with Rosatom on El Dabaa, the country’s first nuclear power plant. The project comprises four 1,200-megawatt units equipped with Russian-designed VVER-1200 reactors.
Once completed, El Dabaa would become Africa’s second nuclear power station after South Africa’s Koeberg plant, which was built using French technology in the mid-1980s.
Likhachev said discussions over a potential floating nuclear power project in Egypt could gain momentum following a meeting scheduled for Wednesday between the presidents of Russia and Egypt.
Any floating plant would represent a separate potential project from El Dabaa, with its own commercial and regulatory requirements.
Indonesia Agreement Expands Floating Nuclear Export Strategy
Rosatom has also reached an agreement with Indonesia for what it describes as the world’s first export supplies of electricity generated by floating nuclear power units. The arrangement involves two units with a combined capacity of 200 megawatts.
The African discussions indicate that Rosatom is seeking to extend this model to coastal markets beyond Russia, combining reactor technology with electricity supply arrangements and maintenance services.
For Egypt, Togo, Namibia and Tanzania, the immediate question is whether the proposed model can be translated into viable projects that meet national electricity demand, financing requirements and nuclear safety standards. The discussions remain at an advanced stage, and the announcement did not establish that any of the four countries had made a final commitment to deploy the technology.
