At the IAEA’s International Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Power in the 21st Century held in Abu Dhabi last week, Russia and Nigeria signed agreements on construction and operation of a nuclear power plant and a research center with a multi-purpose nuclear research reactor in the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The parties also signed a roadmap for cooperation in peaceful uses of nuclear technology. The documents were signed by Anton Moskvin, Vice President for Marketing and Business Development of Rusatom Overseas (a Rosatom Group company). The signatory on behalf of Nigeria was Simon Pesco Mallam, Chairman of the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission.

“Nuclear technology will strengthen Nigeria’s position as a leading country on the African continent. These are large-scale projects of strategic importance, and they will set the pace for relationships between our two countries in the long run,” Anton Moskvin stressed.

Feasibility studies for the nuclear plant and research center projects will include site surveys and estimation of key project parameters, including capacity, machinery required, time frames, implementation stages, and financing mechanisms.

The two countries started their partnership in 2009 from signing an intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in peaceful uses of nuclear power. Further on, the parties signed framework agreements on design, construction, operation and decommissioning of the nuclear power plant and nuclear research center with a multi-purpose nuclear research reactor.