Rwanda- Russia deal on peaceful use of nuclear energy

Republic of Rwanda has signed intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in the field of peaceful uses of nuclear energy in Moscow recently. The Intergovernmental agreement was signed following the memorandum of understanding signed between Rosatom State Corporation of Russia and the Ministry of Infrastructure of Rwanda on June 22, 2018 in Moscow.

Aleksey Likhachev, Rosatom Director General and Claver Gatete,Rwandan Minister for Infrastructure signed the agreement on behalf of their respective governments. The agreement w lays the foundation for active dialogue between two countries in the field of peaceful use of nuclear energy and allows practical implementation of particular projects.

The document establishes legal basis for interaction between Russia and Rwanda in a wide range of areas, including elaboration of the project for the construction of a Center for Nuclear Science and Technology (CNST) and of a Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) in the Republic of Rwanda; development of nuclear infrastructure in line with the international requirements; elaboration of the regulation in the field of nuclear safety, supervision of physical protection of nuclear materials, radiation sources, storage facilities of nuclear and radioactive materials as well as supervision of the accounting and control of nuclear and radiation materials and radioactive waste; fundamental and applied research in the field of peaceful atom; manufacturing of radioisotopes and their application in manufacturing, agriculture and healthcare; training and development of specialists for the nuclear industry.

The agreement also provides for the creation of workgroups for the implementation of particular projects and scientific research, along with the exchange of experts, organising of seminars and conferences, assistance in training scientific and technical personnel as well as the delivery of the equipment and materials.

Aleksey Likhachev emphasized: “We are happy to share our more than 70 years’ expertise in the field of peaceful use of nuclear technologies with our Rwandan partners. We hope that our cooperation in that area will contribute to the economic growth and improve the quality of life of the Rwandan people”.