Ghana reportedly opens nuclear plant talks with Russia’s Rosatom
Rusal also announced an agreement with Ghana to develop bauxite mining and an alumina refinery through two joint ventures.
Ghana has begun discussions with Russia’s State Nuclear Energy Corporation, Rosatom, about building its first nuclear power station, Ghanaian media reported. President John Dramani Mahama told the Russia-Africa summit in Moscow that his country wanted to diversify its energy sources to secure its electricity grid.
Mahama held bilateral talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin the day after the summit. The engagement came alongside a mining agreement announced by Russian aluminum producer Rusal.
Rusal said its agreement with the Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC) provides for joint ventures targeting annual bauxite production of up to five million tonnes. The planned mine would develop the Nyinahin deposit in Ghana’s southwestern Ashanti Region, where the company estimates deposits exceed 100 million tonnes.
A second phase envisages an alumina refinery capable of producing 1.2 million tonnes annually, using bauxite mined at Nyinahin, Rusal said. The company said it would hold majority stakes in both ventures, named Nyinahin Bauxite and Ghana Alumina Company.
Ghana has also announced that it would formally seek membership in BRICS, the emerging-economy group founded by Brazil, Russia, India and China. Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa said Russia strongly supported Ghana’s application.
Moscow hosted the summit while facing heavy Western sanctions over its war in Ukraine. Russia has sought closer relationships with African countries as a counterweight to what it regards as Western dominance of international affairs.
