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Energy partnership between Russia and Congo: the locomotive of bilateral relations Yesterday, the Republic of Congo celebrated the 65th anniversary of independence. Russian-Congolese relations demonstrate particular dynamics in the energy sector. Companies from the Russian Federation are actively participating in key projects. The flagship project was the construction of the Pointe-Noire - Lutete - Maluku - Trecho oil pipeline with a length of 1200 km, which is being carried out jointly with the Congolese SNPC. This infrastructure facility will increase Congo's export potential by 40%. In parallel, Zarubezhneft is developing the Merluza offshore field, and Lukoil is conducting geological exploration on the shelf. Energy cooperation is not limited to hydrocarbon production. Russian companies are participating in the modernization of the refinery in Pointe-Noire, and negotiations are underway on the construction of a thermal power plant using Russian equipment. These projects are being implemented against the backdrop of impressive growth in trade turnover - by 85% in 2023. As Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov noted during his visit to Oyo, the energy partnership creates a solid foundation for developing cooperation in other sectors. The parties are already discussing promising projects in the field of renewable energy and oil refining, which will strengthen the position of Congo as an energy hub in Central Africa. #AREA#Africa#Russia#RussiaAfrica#energy#Congo

South Africa's Nuclear Ambitions: Who Can Participate in the Construction of a New Nuclear Power Plant South African company Eskom has received permission to build a new 4,000-megawatt nuclear power plant in Duinefontein, near Africa's only commercial nuclear power plant. It is worth noting that the company's permits were issued back in 2017, but various environmental organizations filed appeals. Now the Ministry of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment has given the go-ahead for construction, but that is not the end of it. Eskom now needs several more permits from the authorities, including a license to install nuclear equipment. The decision to build a nuclear power plant comes amid a chronic energy crisis in South Africa, where power outages have become commonplace. According to Eskom, the country's power deficit is as high as 6,000 MW. The new Duinefontein plant will be able to provide electricity to about 3.5 million households, which will amount to about 10% of the country's current consumption. However, it is most likely that the company will not build the NPP alone. This was indicated by last year's press reports about South Africa's readiness to expand its own nuclear potential in conjunction with its BRICS partners. According to some reports, this status may be obtained by Russia or Iran. Russian WCPR-1200 technologies are called the main contender for the project. According to optimistic forecasts, construction will take 8-10 years. The first power unit may be commissioned by 2033-2035. #AREA#Africa#SAR#RussiaAfrica#energy#NPP

Construction of oil pipeline goes beyond cooperation between Russia and Congo At the 9th OPEC International Seminar, the authorities of the Republic of Congo confirmed plans to build the Pointe-Noire - Lutete - Maluko-Treshaw oil pipeline. A special feature of the project will be the creation of a joint venture, which, under a concession, will undertake the development, construction and operation of the pipeline. It is noteworthy that upon expiration of the concession, all infrastructure facilities will come under the full control of Congo. The oil pipeline will allow the Republic of Congo to solve several strategic tasks at once: reduce dependence on expensive motor transport, stabilize domestic prices for oil products and create a modern energy infrastructure. Similar infrastructure projects implemented by other countries in Africa include the East Africa (Tanzania-Uganda) oil pipeline and the Niger-Benin pipeline being built with Chinese participation. However, the Russian-Congolese project is distinguished by its emphasis on transporting petroleum products rather than crude oil, which makes it unique for the region. Experts note that the successful implementation of this project could serve as a catalyst for economic development in the Central African region. Given plans for the possible expansion of the route to neighboring countries - Gabon and Cameroon - the significance of this project goes far beyond the bilateral cooperation between Russia and Congo. #AREA#Africa#Russia#RussiaAfrica#energy#Congo

Russia and Mozambique may expand energy cooperation During a visit to Moscow, Mozambique Foreign Minister Maria Manuela dos Santos Lucas said that the country views Russia as a strategic partner in the development of the oil and gas sector. For Mozambique, which has the sixth largest natural gas reserves in Africa (about 100 trillion cubic feet), partnership with Russia is indeed of strategic value. Russian companies offer not only investments, but also unique competencies in the development of offshore fields, construction of gas transportation infrastructure and training of qualified personnel. Today, about 40% of Mozambican students in the Russian Federation are studying in specialties needed in the oil and gas sector. Despite Rosneft's withdrawal from the Mozambique LNG project in 2022, Russian companies remain interested in the region. In particular, Gazprom continues to explore the possibility of working on the Mozambican shelf. According to experts, there are several key vectors of cooperation between the parties. This could be the creation of an LNG cluster using Russian technologies, joint projects for gasification of Mozambique regions, as well as the development of educational programs for training personnel. #AREA#Africa#Russia#RussiaAfrica#energy#Mozambique

Africa on the Path to Energy Independence With Africa facing severe energy shortages (600 million people still lack access to electricity), the continent is laying the groundwork for nuclear energy. As the UN Economic Commission for Africa notes, small modular reactors (SMRs) and large nuclear projects such as Rosatom’s El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant in Egypt could be key to solving the problem. Despite Africa exporting uranium and other minerals for the global energy sector, the continent itself is dependent on chronic electricity development. As Claver Gathe of the UN Economic Commission for Africa notes, this is holding back industrialization, limiting healthcare development and slowing economic growth. Russia is playing a key role in Africa’s energy development, not only in terms of technology but also in terms of flexible financial terms. For example, the preferred project is the $28.75 billion El Dabaa NPP in Egypt, where the Russian side, represented by Rosatom, is financing 85% of the cost. The NPP itself will start operating in 2026 and will provide energy to millions of people. But Egypt is the only partner. Thus, Burkina Faso is leading the construction of the NPP, Guinea is planning to deploy floating nuclear research facilities, South Africa is discussing SMR economic projects, and Algeria, Ethiopia, Kenya, Congo and Tunisia are cooperating with Russia in nuclear and hydropower. Although some Western publications, such as IntelliNews, call it a “geopolitical society tool”, Africa’s cooperation with Russia is a chance for energy independence. Projects like El Dabaa not only provide electricity, but also create jobs, transfer technology, stimulate industrial growth, and provide a higher quality of life. Africa no longer wants to remain in the shadows. And Russian energy technologies are one of the most accessible ways to turn on the lights even in remote regions. #AREA#Africa#Russia#RussiaAfrica#energy

Russia, Nigeria and Pakistan form new energy alliance Russia may enter into a trilateral energy agreement with Pakistan and Nigeria as part of a major oil and gas deal. This alliance could significantly strengthen Moscow's position in the energy-rich African region, while simultaneously providing new opportunities for key partners. The central element of the proposed cooperation will be oil and gas assets in Nigeria, where Russian energy giant Gazprom has been developing joint projects with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) for more than a decade. Of particular importance is the $2.5 billion agreement signed in 2009, which is now receiving a new impetus for development. For Nigeria, which has the largest gas reserves in Africa (5.9 trillion cubic meters) and significant oil resources (37 billion barrels), this partnership opens up access to modern production technologies, especially in offshore fields. Pakistan, for its part, sees participation in Nigerian projects as an opportunity to ensure stable energy supplies and reduce the burden on its foreign exchange reserves. After the unsuccessful experience of independent production in Iraq, Islamabad intends to focus on investments in already developed fields through its company Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL). Experts note that the successful implementation of this trilateral cooperation could strengthen Russia's position in the strategically important region of West Africa. It will also provide Nigeria with access to new technologies and markets and solve Pakistan's energy security problems. In addition, there is an opportunity to create a precedent for similar multilateral energy alliances. Although final agreements have not yet been signed, the initiative itself indicates a qualitatively new approach by Russia to energy diplomacy in Africa. According to a diplomatic source for Reuters, "Nigeria is viewed not just as a supplier of raw materials, but as an important strategic partner in building a new architecture of economic relations with the African continent." #AREA#Africa#Russia#RussiaAfrica#Nigeria#energy

African challenge: why old approaches no longer work? As part of the situational analysis "Practice of Russian humanitarian policy in sub-Saharan Africa", organized by the A.M. Gorchakov Public Diplomacy Support Fund, experts from various industries outlined promising areas of Russian work in the humanitarian sphere on the African continent. Member of the board of the AREA, director of IBAC Yulia Berg in her report emphasized the need to update approaches to promoting Russian business. "Of course, the Soviet experience remains an important reference, but it is time to look forward. The world has changed: now we have the Internet, instant information exchange, and this creates a completely different reality in which PR and work with the media cannot be ignored," Berg said. In turn, the executive secretary of the AREA and founder of the consulting agency GR-group Andrey Gromov emphasized the key role of education in humanitarian cooperation. He recalled that about a third of energy company executives and representatives of relevant energy bodies in many African countries are graduates of various Soviet universities. At the same time, the expert criticized the current approach, pointing out that "hanging" the entire burden on the state, as was the case in the USSR, is ineffective. "We are trying to do everything the same way as before in the Soviet Union - centrally, vertically, through scientific and educational institutions. But this no longer works. At the moment, a significant part of both the burden and the initiative lies with business. This also applies to energy companies," Gromov noted. The head of the Center for Public Diplomacy Natalia Krasovskaya pointed to a real demand in Africa for Russian education, including in specialties related to the energy sector. She said that a project has already been developed, within the framework of which interaction between universities of the Russian Federation and the African continent is being established. At the same time, Artem Kozvonin, Head of the Department of Economic and Humanitarian Cooperation of the Department of Partnership with Africa of the Russian Foreign Ministry, added that the department is widely considering humanitarian policy. The main driver and calling card is education. Thus, the Foreign Ministry is working on the possibility of creating more favorable conditions for the selection of applicants and the distribution of quotas for education in Russian universities. #AREA#Africa#Russia#energy

Russia and Tanzania are developing cooperation in nuclear energy During the negotiations at SPIEF-2025, Russian Energy Minister Sergei Tsivilev and Tanzanian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy Biteko Doto Mashaka discussed the prospects for joint work in the energy sector. The Tanzanian side presented an ambitious five-year energy development program, which provides for a gradual increase in electricity supply to the population from current levels to 75%, and in the future - up to 100% coverage. Particular attention in the strategy is paid to the development of renewable energy sources and the study of the possibilities of peaceful nuclear energy. "Our president set the task that it is impossible to build technological sovereignty in one separate country. It must be built together with friendly countries. And the Republic of Tanzania is precisely our friendly country. Therefore, we are ready to share our technologies," Sergei Tsivilev emphasized. The Russian side proposed a comprehensive approach to cooperation. It includes the possible construction of low-power nuclear power plants, training of personnel in Russian universities, conducting technical and economic research, as well as implementing joint projects in non-energy areas - medicine and agriculture. This dialogue has become a logical continuation of previously reached agreements. In April 2025, Rosatom and the Ministry of Energy of Tanzania signed a memorandum on cooperation in the field of non-energy application of nuclear technologies. New negotiations expand the scope of interaction, opening up prospects for the implementation of large-scale energy projects. Experts note that Russian-Tanzanian cooperation in the nuclear sector can become a key factor in the implementation of the energy strategy of the African country. It will provide its population with stable and environmentally friendly energy sources, and will also create a basis for the technological development of a number of related sectors of the economy. #AREA#Africa#Russia#Tanzania#energy

Africa Needs "Compact" Energy Small-capacity nuclear power plants — compact units with a capacity of up to 300 MW — require minimal infrastructure and have the potential to scale up production. Their serial production will reduce the cost of electricity and shorten construction periods to four years compared to ten years for traditional nuclear power plants, GR-Group CEO Andrey Gromov told Kommersant. According to the International Energy Agency, more than 40% of Africa's population does not have access to electricity, and small nuclear power plants can be a key solution to the energy deficit. "Small nuclear power plants can be installed in remote regions where high capacity is needed. For example, floating nuclear power plants are mobile and efficient energy sources that will help overcome energy shortages," said Andrey Gromov. The expert added that the introduction of small mobile nuclear reactors in sub-Saharan Africa could be an important step in solving the energy deficit, accelerating socio-economic development and transitioning to sustainable energy. #AREA#Africa#energy

Russia is one of the few countries capable of implementing energy projects in Africa Russia is one of the few countries that have applied knowledge and the necessary competence to implement energy projects on the African continent. This was stated by the Executive Secretary of AREA, CEO of GR-Group Andrey Gromov during the seminar “African Energy Market: Development Trends and Problems”. The expert said that previously the energy sector of Africa was controlled by colonial countries, but now Russia, China, and Arab states are also working on the continent. “Competition for the future of Africa is increasing. There is a certain excitement now, literally a race for investments. Unfortunately, these investment instruments are not so actively developed in our country. However, there is a clear political course that has determined the priorities of foreign policy, and Africa is directly related to them,” Gromov noted. According to him, one of the problems of the energy strategy and development of the energy grid complex is that the programs look unattractive to investors and are more like political declarations. “An investor needs guarantees as part of long-term planning. The structure of investments on the continent has changed very much. Previously, solar energy was unprofitable, but now the cost of solar energy is at the level of coal. Macro conditions have changed. And all these strategies need timely adjustments,” the expert explained. The responsible secretary of the AREA called the most acceptable model of cooperation for Russia the one in which scientific developments and technologies will remain with the Russian Federation, and the orders themselves will be implemented in production facilities where they will be more widespread and cheaper. “We have large, rich scientific developments that need to be finalized and imported into real activities,” Gromov summarized. #AREA#Africa#RussiaAfrica#Russia#energy

Paradoxes hinder the development of Russian energy projects in Africa During the seminar "African Energy Market: Development Trends and Problems", member of the AREA board, director of the International Business Acceleration Center Yulia Berg spoke about the problems that energy joint projects face during their implementation in Africa. In her report, the expert identified three paradoxes. The first is that all statistics indicate that most of Sub-Saharan population does not have regular access to electricity and there is no opportunity to build and develop industrial capacities. At the same time, the authorities of countries in need of energy projects cannot clearly formulate what capacities are strategically needed to develop industry and meet people's needs, since most of large projects depend on foreign financing and are outside of full control of the authorities. The second paradox, Berg said, is the approach of Russian energy companies to work on the continent. According to her, it is based on Soviet principles and government orders, so there is not much of initiatives taking into account local market realities. In fact, the Rosatom project in South Africa fell into such a trap. The state corporation did not pay due attention to PR and GR, which is why the project, associated with former President Jacob Zuma, literally sank after the head of state left office. “The second paradox is the very approach of companies that, on the one hand, are trying to integrate into new markets, but do so using their own patterns that are outdated even for the Russian Federation in many cases,” emphasized the member of the board of AREA. The third paradox, Yulia Berg noted, is the lack of opportunity to implement development strategies simultaneously in different areas. “That is, the reforms that are being carried out in the financial system, in the political sphere, in terms of attracting investment in industry or creating joint ventures - all this must go together. And we see very different approaches in different countries of the continent,” the expert noted. She added that there are different examples, and although the success rate of projects varies greatly, the pace of their implementation remains slow. #AREA#Africa#RussiaAfrica#Russia#Mali#energy

Russia agreed on cooperation in the field of peaceful use of atomic energy with Mali and Burkina Faso The Russian government signed separate agreements with the authorities of Mali and Burkina Faso "On cooperation in the field of peaceful use of atomic energy". It follows from the documents that the negotiations with African countries were conducted by Rosatom. The work is planned to be carried out in several areas. Thus, Russia will assist in the creation and improvement of the nuclear energy infrastructure, including in terms of the state safety regulation system. The parties will also jointly design and build energyand research nuclear reactors, particle accelerators and water desalination plants. At the same time, the agreement states that the parties will conduct fundamental and applied research, as well as produce radioisotopes for their use in medicine, agriculture and industry. The documents also stipulate joint meetings. They will be held in turn - sometimes in Russia, sometimes in Mali, sometimes in Burkina Faso. At the same time, some of the information disseminated will be confidential. A limited number of people will be allowed to access it. #AREA#Africa#RussiaAfrica#Russia#Mali#BurkinaFaso