Russian Firm to Set Up Ethiopia Nuclear Science and Technology Centre

A subsidiary of Rosatom, the Russian nuclear energy company, and the Ministry of Innovation and Technology of Ethiopia have signed a contract for the development of a feasibility study for the Ethiopia Nuclear Science and Technology Centre (NSTC).

“We are working with our foreign partners on various projects and joint solutions for the development of nuclear and radiation technologies on the African continent. The signed contract and the appointment of Rosatom as the exclusive supplier of solutions in the field of feasibility study development for NSTC in Ethiopia once again confirm our countries’ intention to strengthen long-term cooperation,” said Ilya Vergizaev, divisional Head of Rosatom.

Rosatom, or the State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom, is a Russian state-owned nuclear corporation that specialises in nuclear energy, high-tech products, and nuclear non-energy goods.

Rosatom will start work on analysing the country’s non-energy sector, assessing the needs of various segments of the economy for technologies that can be implemented at the Centre’s key facilities in the near future. A list of potential users of these technological solutions will also be compiled, which will make it possible to create a market for commercial products and services based on the Centre. Another important step will be identifying possible areas for the Centre and conduct preliminary engineering surveys for the subsequent selection of a site for the construction of the NSTC.

According to Minister of Innovation and Technology of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Belete Molla, the two countries are systematically developing cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy, and he expects Rosatom to assist Ethiopia in developing national nuclear power and non-energy programmes, as well as individual projects.

Rosatom offers foreign customers  solutions for nuclear science and technology centres (NSTCs) comprising a research reactor, a laboratory complex and optionally a multi-purpose irradiation and nuclear medicine centre. In addition to the turnkey construction of a NSTC, the proposal includes the establishment and development of nuclear infrastructure in the partner country, training, fuel supply, maintenance and modernisation, operational support, spent fuel and radioactive waste management.

The core of such a centre is a nuclear research reactor and a number of laboratories, including a radioisotope laboratory to produce radioisotopes for medical, industrial and agricultural purposes, a radiobiology laboratory for agricultural research and experiments, a radiation materials science complex to study and develop new materials and modify the properties of existing ones, and others.

Rosatom is a diversified holding company that unites assets in the fields of energy, engineering and construction. Rosatom’s activities also include production of innovative non-nuclear products, logistics and development of the Northern Sea Route, and implementation of environmental projects. The state corporation unites more than 450 enterprises and organisations employing about 400 thousand people.

The company is the largest producer of low-carbon electricity in Russia providing about 20 % of the total electricity volume produced in the country. Rosatom ranks first in the world in terms of its portfolio of orders for the construction of nuclear power plants: 39 power units (including six small modular units) are at various stages of implementation in 10 countries.