Rwanda counting on Russia to train nuclear power specialists: Video
Rwanda is counting on Russia to help train its citizens in nuclear energy as the small African country looks to nuclear power as a key solution to boosting its energy supply.
Speaking at the Russia-Africa Forum in Sochi on Saturday, November 9, Rwanda's Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe expressed the country’s commitment to developing nuclear energy capabilities.
“We need nuclear energy,” Nduhungirehe said in an interview with AFP, emphasizing the importance of nuclear power in Rwanda's future energy plans.
Rwanda, a landlocked country with a population of around 13 million, currently generates about half of its electricity from thermal sources, 44 per cent from hydroelectric power, and just four per cent from solar.
With demand for energy increasing, Rwanda sees nuclear power as an essential part of its strategy to diversify its energy sources and increase supply.
Russia, seeking to strengthen diplomatic and economic ties with African nations, is offering its expertise in nuclear technology as part of its outreach efforts.
According to Nduhungirehe, Rwanda has already benefited from training hundreds of students in Russian universities, including those specializing in nuclear science.
The collaboration between Rwanda and Russia in nuclear energy dates back to 2019, when Russia’s state-run nuclear energy corporation, Rosatom, signed an agreement to assist in building nuclear power plants in Rwanda.
