African nations are demonstrating increasing interest in nuclear power, including advanced technologies such as Russia's floating power units (FPUs), according to Vladimir Aptekarev, Deputy Director General for Commercialization of Floating Power Solutions at Rosatom. He made the statement during the African Energy Week conference in Cape Town, South Africa.
“The interest of African states in nuclear technology is growing, with many countries on the continent beginning to incorporate nuclear energy into their national plans,” Aptekarev stated. “There is a growing understanding that nuclear power is not just an energy source but also a driver of socio-economic development, offering opportunities for economic scaling, new jobs, and decarbonization within the environmental agenda.”
Aptekarev noted particular African interest in FPUs, where Russia is the recognized leader in development and implementation.
“We consistently observe growing interest from African countries in floating nuclear solutions because they require minimal infrastructure, can be deployed relatively quickly, and are very convenient to commission,” he explained. “A fully completed floating power unit arrives at the deployment site to specially prepared infrastructure, which is relatively simple compared to other generation types, such as high-capacity power plants.”
He emphasized the importance of Rosatom's operational experience: “It's crucial for our African partners to understand that we are the only country in the world, and Rosatom the only company, that operates a commercial floating power unit – the FPU Akademik Lomonosov, which has been supplying electricity and heat to the city of Pevek for over five years.”
“We are conducting substantive negotiations with several African countries regarding electricity supply from floating power units,” Aptekarev added, forecasting that “interest in FPUs will undoubtedly continue to grow.”
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Photo: Rosatom
Based on materials from TASS