Rosatom returns to South African market to supply enriched uranium products, signs long-term contracts - CEO

MOSCOW. Oct 30 (Interfax) - Rosatom state nuclear energy corporation has returned to the South African market to supply enriched uranium products, having signed long-term contracts, Rosatom CEO Alexei Likhachev told reporters.

As for other projects in African countries, Rosatom has received authorization to begin drilling test wells in Namibia.

"The method we use, so-called in-situ leaching for uranium, has been approved by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). An IAEA delegation visited Namibia, after which we received permission to commence operations," Likhachev explained on the sidelines of the Russia-Africa summit.

Furthermore, a project in Tanzania has seen significant progress, with Rosatom now moving toward the establishment of full-scale processing facilities. Meanwhile, exploration work is well underway at a lithium deposit in Mali, Likhachev added.

"As for Mali, we are making significant progress toward the construction of a hybrid power plant, namely a 50-MW solar power facility paired with a 20-MW energy storage system. These are our own technologies, and there is a clear demand for them. In short, we have essentially finalized the contract and have already moved into the initial phase of implementation," Likhachev noted.

Rosatom is currently constructing four 1200-MW power units at the El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant in Egypt, which is the state corporation's first project on the African continent. Rosatom is also looking to establish collaboration with other African countries, including Ethiopia, Rwanda, and Zambia, Likhachev said on the sidelines of the Russia-Africa summit.