Russia has reignited conversations with African leaders on bringing its floating nuclear facilities to the continent.
- Russia is actively engaging African nations regarding the deployment of its floating nuclear power technology.
- Guinea and Russia initiated collaboration talks on such projects in 2024, signing a memorandum of understanding at SPIEF.
- Russia's floating nuclear power plant, the Akademik Lomonosov, offers mobile energy solutions and can provide electricity, heat, and desalinated water to remote areas.
- Egypt is currently a primary focus for Russia's expansion in Africa, using the technology to grow its nuclear sector and foster local shipbuilding.
This conversation took center stage back in 2024, when the Kremlin and the Republic of Guinea began assessing the feasibility of collaborating on a floating nuclear project.
At the time, the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) to this effect.
To this effect, a statement from Rosatom, Russia’s state-owned nuclear company, read, "A floating nuclear power plant is a site with one or more nuclear reactors, located on a platform at sea.
It is an autonomous site that can provide electricity and heat to areas with difficult access, such as the cold Northern territories. It can also provide drinking water to dry areas via desalination techniques."
The statement further detailed, "The parties will study the possibility of implementing the floating power units project in the Republic of Guinea within the framework of the agreement reached and will work out the terms and conditions of the project."
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Currently, Russia is the only country in the world that has a floating nuclear facility.
The country operates the Akademik Lomonosov, the world's first operational floating nuclear power plant.
It is essentially a nuclear power station built onto a ship-like platform that can supply electricity and heat to remote coastal communities.
Unlike a conventional nuclear power station, it can be stationed in a remote port rather than requiring a large land-based site.
Very recently, according to Rosatom’s nuclear chief, Alexey Likhachev, the company reiterated its intent to bring its floating nuclear units to Africa.
He noted that this time, Egypt is a region of interest, given the North African country’s intent to expand its nuclear capabilities.
Egypt aims to use the technology to facilitate localized shipbuilding and expand cooperation into small nuclear power plants.
As seen on Sputnik, Alexey Likhachev made this known to reporters he spoke to on the sidelines of the Russian Energy Week.
The Rosatom chief further revealed that the initiative is not exclusive to Egypt, as other African countries that have already established a nuclear framework with Moscow are also in the mix for its floating nuclear technology.
As of 2025, official data showed that around 15 African countries had nuclear cooperation with Russia, including some of the continent’s largest economies.
Countries such as Morocco, Egypt, Nigeria, Ghana, Ethiopia, and Tanzania not only have nuclear cooperation with Russia but also boast a military partnership with the Eurasian giant.
Of these countries, Egypt is currently Russia’s top partner in Africa.
Partnership between Egypt and Russia
In August 2025, Russia officially listed Egypt as its largest African trade and economic partner, underscoring the two countries' expanding relationship.
According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, bilateral trade topped $9 billion in 2024, highlighting Egypt's vital position in Moscow's engagement on the continent.
The statement came as Moscow and Cairo celebrated 82 years of diplomatic relations, which have historically included political, military, and economic cooperation.
At the core of their relationship is Egypt's first nuclear power station, El-Dabaa, which Russia's state-owned Rosatom is now building.
Launched in 2022, the project represents a long-term investment by both nations in their alliance.
The facility is intended to increase Egypt's electricity-generating capacity, diversify its energy mix, and strengthen Russia's position as a significant stakeholder in Egypt's infrastructure development.