Experts and officials discussed issues of Russia's humanitarian policy abroad during a situational analysis called "The practice of Russia's humanitarian policy in Africa - south of the Sahara".

The founder of the consulting agency GR-group Andrey Gromov called for closer interaction between business and the state, since it is business that is the driving force of cooperation.

"In cooperation with Africa, we must not just talk, but proceed from a comprehensive approach, really invest and work. In order for the humanitarian agenda to be heard, we need not words, but actions, jointly developed and brought to results projects," the expert said.

The opinion that information about Russia needs to be more widely disseminated on the African continent was expressed by the general director of the "International Center for Business Promotion" Yulia Berg:

"The main media cover a narrow audience that is already interested in Russia. To reach a wider audience, we need entertainment content — TV series, shows, where Russian narratives will be integrated organically. This is not “frivolous” — it is effective.”

The head of the Center for Public Diplomacy Natalia Krasovskaya reported that Russia has begun cooperation with African countries in the “university to university” format. 23 agreements have already been concluded, and 2 more are at the signing stage.

The head of the Department of Economic and Humanitarian Cooperation of the Department of Partnership with Africa of the Russian Foreign Ministry Artem Kozvonin stated about the need for systematic work and the creation of more favorable conditions for Africans within Russia.

The event was organized by the A.M. Gorchakov Public Diplomacy Support Fund.

#Africa #development #Russia #projects

Against the backdrop of the global energy transition, low-power nuclear power plants (LPNPPs) are rapidly gaining popularity. Kommersant spoke with experts about the positive and negative aspects of these plants.

IBAC co-founder Andrey Gromov believes that nuclear energy remains one of the most efficient and environmentally friendly generation methods, combining advanced technologies and fundamental science. Despite the fact that research into the structure of the atomic nucleus is at an early stage and is actively continuing (as evidenced by the addition of the periodic table), today this knowledge allows us to create practical solutions for energy.

Russia maintains leadership in this area, continuing the traditions of the Soviet nuclear program. Modern Rosatom not only builds more NPPs than in the USSR, but also successfully adapts projects to local conditions in different countries of the world. However, a complete transition to nuclear energy will take time — in the next 10-15 years, hydrocarbons will continue to play a key role, while renewable sources will play a growing role.

Nuclear energy demonstrates particular potential in developing countries, especially in Africa, where 590 million people (40% of the population) still do not have access to electricity. As Gromov notes, "There is often no developed infrastructure and high stable consumption, the climate is dry, but the need for energy is high — especially in the extraction and processing of minerals."

African countries face two main energy problems: a shortage of generation (South Africa, Nigeria) and a lack of grid infrastructure (Kenya, Ethiopia)

Here, low-power nuclear power plants (LPNPPs) and floating NPPs can become a revolutionary solution. Their advantages include a modular design, quick payback, the ability to operate in remote regions, and stability of energy supplies.

According to Gromov, the main thing now is to actively implement and develop these technologies. At the moment, nuclear energy, like other nuclear technologies, has not reached widespread use, but their future is very promising.

"We are on the threshold of great opportunities, and what awaits us ahead may exceed any current expectations," the expert concluded.

#Africa #development #energy #projects

There are three paradoxes due to which the development of Russian projects in African countries is stalling. This was stated by the General Director of the International Business Acceleration Center Yulia Berg during the expert seminar "African Energy Market: Development Trends and Problems" organized by the Russian International Affairs Council and the Institute for African Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

The first paradox, according to her, is that the demand for energy in Africa is obvious, but local authorities cannot clearly determine what capacities are needed in the strategic perspective, since the emergence of large industrial consumers largely depends on foreign investors.

"Representatives of most countries do not control the entire situation and cannot give a specific answer," she emphasized. At the same time, investor interest in a market with huge potential remains high.

is related to the approach of Russian companies. The expert cited the example of Rosatom's project in South Africa, which never became national, but remained a personal project of the former president of the country.

"The PR and GR of the project were given almost no attention, and as soon as the former South African President Jacob Zuma started having problems, the project quickly failed," she noted.

. Many countries do not use a comprehensive approach to reforms - financial, political, administrative, the expert added. At the same time, there are successful examples, such as Zambia, where reforms and the creation of favorable conditions for the protection of investments yielded results.

In general, despite the understanding of the need for a comprehensive approach, the implementation of projects remains difficult and slow, getting stuck on various barriers.

#Africa #development #Russia #projects

Burkina Faso is preparing to sign an agreement with Russia on the peaceful use of nuclear energy on the sidelines of the upcoming St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF).

The intergovernmental agreement on the peaceful use of nuclear energy has been “agreed upon and finalized,” a source in the Ministry of Energy of Burkina Faso said.

In August 2024, the government of the African country decided to create the Burkina Faso Atomic Energy Agency (BAAE), which, according to the country's President Ibrahima Traore, “will ensure the energy independence of Burkina Faso, the industrialization of the country and facilitate access to electricity throughout its territory.”

Burkina Faso plans to build a nuclear power plant by 2030 to meet growing electricity needs, which are expected to triple in a few years.

#Russia #Africa #nuclear

The governments of Russia and Congo have ratified an agreement on cooperation on the construction of the Pointe-Noire – Lutete – Maluko-Tresho oil pipeline, the Russian Federation Council reported.

According to Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on International Affairs Andrei Klimov, the purpose of the agreement is to create favorable conditions for cooperation between the countries.

“Authorized organizations of the parties will create a joint venture with a 90% Russian share. The joint venture will sign a contract with the Russian authorized organization for the construction of the pipeline,” Klimov explained.

The future oil pipeline will supply oil products not only to the Republic of Congo, but also to neighboring DR Congo.

#Russia #Africa #oil