The United States should begin active cooperation with African countries in nuclear energy to limit the influence of Russia and China on the continent. This opinion was expressed by Liam Carr, a member of the American Enterprise Institute, in an article for The National Interest.
Nuclear energy will play a key role in Africa's future. Russia and China are ahead of the United States in this direction. Energy provides Moscow and Beijing not only with leverage but also with tremendous business opportunities.
Rosatom Dominates in Africa
According to estimates by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), electricity demand in Africa will increase by 40% by 2030. For the development of digitalization and increasing the level of industrialization, the continent needs efficient sources of energy.
Russia positions itself as a world leader in the nuclear energy market, including in Africa. The state corporation "Rosatom" provides comprehensive assistance, including financing, educational training, and infrastructure support.
Carr recalled that over the past decade, 21 African countries have signed nuclear energy cooperation agreements with Russia. In parallel, the Russians are trying to gain access to uranium mining in Africa. Thus, the energy dependence of other states on Russia has become its "weapon against the West," the expert emphasized.
The US is Left Out
The United States is missing out on a great opportunity by not paying attention to energy cooperation with Africa, he believes.
But, thanks to the emergence of small modular reactors (small nuclear power plants), the United States has the opportunity to get back in the game.
Washington will have to work in a highly competitive environment with Russia and China. That is why the administration of US President Donald Trump needs to resume funding for the Power Africa program, Carr concluded.
About Rosatom Projects
Enterprises within the state corporation have already assembled 250 reactors of various types and capacities, including 80 supplied abroad. The construction of large nuclear power plants is actively underway in Turkey ( «Akkuyu»), Bangladesh («Rooppur»), India («Kudankulam»), China («Tianwan», «Xudapu»), Egypt («El-Dabaa»), Hungary («Paks-2») and other countries.
Rosatom also provides services for the repair and maintenance of power equipment, and develops new methods for processing radioactive waste. In the Tomsk region, nuclear scientists are building the world's first nuclear power plant with a closed nuclear fuel cycle.
Read more materials on the topic:
- Rosatom Launches World's First Nuclear Fuel Recycling Plant with No Liquid Waste
- Not Only El-Dabaa: Rosatom May Receive Another Contract to Build a Nuclear Power Plant in Egypt
- Rosatom Manufactured Its 80th Export Reactor and Sent It to the Akkuyu NPP in Turkey
