Russia and Ethiopia have signed the Intergovernmental framework agreement on cooperation in the field of peaceful uses of atomic energy.
The document was signed by Alexei Likhachev, ROSATOM Director-General on behalf of Russia and by Getahun Mecuria Kuma, the Minister of Innovation and Technology of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia on behalf of Ethiopia.
The deal, inked on the sidelines of the first Russia-Africa Summit in Sochi will serve as a springboard for starting an active dialogue between the two countries in the field of nuclear technologies and the practical implementation of specific projects within the framework of cooperation.
Alexei Likhachev noted: “We are glad to provide Ethiopia with access to more than 70 years of experience in the peaceful use of nuclear technologies in Russia and hope that our cooperation will contribute to the sustainable development of Ethiopia and improve the quality of life of the nation.”
The Intergovernmental agreement creates a legal framework for establishing cooperation between Russia and Ethiopia on a wide range of areas.
These areas include: fine-tuning the projects for construction of the Center for nuclear science and technology (CNST) and nuclear power plant (NPP) on the territory of the Republic of Ethiopia, developing nuclear infrastructure in accordance with international recommendations; applying nuclear and radiation safety regulations; implementing fundamental and applied research for peaceful uses of nuclear technologies; producing and using radioisotopes in various industries, healthcare and agriculture; cooperating in the field of radiation technologies and nuclear medicine applications and education, training and retraining of specialists for the nuclear industry.
The Intergovernmental agreement was signed following the signing in 2017 of the Memorandum of understanding between ROSATOM and the Ministry of science and technology of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. In May 2019, the parties signed the roadmap or establishing cooperation on the construction of an NPP and a CNST in Ethiopia.
