Russia has proposed building Niger’s first nuclear power plant, signalling a deepening partnership in civilian atomic energy and challenging France’s longstanding role after Niamey seized and nationalised French-managed uranium assets, the BBC has reported.

Rosatom, Moscow’s state-owned nuclear agency, signed an agreement with Niger’s military authorities covering electricity generation, medical use of nuclear technology and training programmes.

“Our task is not simply to participate in uranium mining. We must create an entire system for the development of peaceful atomic energy in Niger,” Russian Energy Minister Sergei Tsivilev is quoted as saying during a visit to Niamey. If realised, the project would represent the first nuclear power station in West Africa.

The agreement follows sweeping changes in Niger’s uranium industry. In June, the ruling junta nationalised operations run by France’s Orano, halting exports and leaving about 1,400 tonnes of uranium concentrate, known as “yellowcake”, stranded at the Sominak mine in Arlit. Orano’s rights to the vast Imouraren deposit were revoked in 2023, opening the way for potential Russian participation in one of the world’s largest undeveloped uranium reserves.

Analysts say Niger’s ambitions face major challenges. Nuclear reactors require extensive capital, a stable electricity grid and secure facilities, all difficult to guarantee in the Sahel region, which is affected by insurgent violence and weak infrastructure. French officials have previously considered a Nigerien nuclear plant unviable, opting instead to import ore for processing and enrichment at facilities in Normandy. Niger currently relies heavily on coal and power imports from Nigeria to meet its domestic needs.

The political consequences, however, are immediate. Russia has positioned itself as a partner offering industrial development, appealing to resentment that Niger was limited to raw materials exports under French control. The approach reflects policies in neighbouring Mali and Burkina Faso, which have also strengthened ties with Moscow.