Russia and Niger have signed a significant memorandum of understanding aimed at enhancing collaboration in civil nuclear energy and uranium exploitation.
The announcement was made following a high-level meeting between Niger’s President, General Abdourahamane Tiani, and a visiting Russian delegation led by Russia’s Minister of Energy, Serguei Tsivilev, in Niamey on Monday.
The meeting marks a major step forward in strengthening bilateral ties between the two nations, particularly in the strategic sectors of energy and natural resources.
“This is my first visit to Niger, and I deliberately chose it as my initial destination as President of the Russian side of the intergovernmental commission with AES countries,” Minister Tsivilev stated after the talks.
“We held very dynamic discussions with our Nigerien counterparts,” he said, emphasizing that the Russian delegation included numerous representatives from major Russian companies. “We saw many presentations about the opportunities that exist in Niger, and our teams are already discussing how we can implement this potential.”
The Russian Energy Minister expressed his gratitude for the warm welcome from the Nigerien people and government. He announced that a memorandum had been signed to cooperate on the peaceful use of nuclear energy with a specific focus on uranium development and the creation of a comprehensive exploitation system.
According to Tsivilev, the partnership also includes plans to train national personnel in sectors such as energy, agriculture, health, and education.
“We agreed to prepare engineers from their school years so that they can continue their education at universities in the Russian Federation,” he added.
President Tiani reportedly confirmed his intention to appoint a Nigerien co-chair for the intergovernmental commission soon, ensuring systematic and continuous cooperation.
“Our cooperation must be based on mutual trust, mutual respect, and mutual benefit,” Tsivilev emphasized. “Our primary objective is to improve the well-being of the people of Niger and Russia.”
The audience was attended by several top Nigerien officials, including the Ministers of Defence, Mines, Foreign Affairs (interim), and Energy, along with the President’s Chief of Staff, the head of the national nuclear agency HANEA, and the presidential advisor on mining and energy.
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