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Russia’s Rosatom says it is in advanced talks to supply floating nuclear power plants to African countries

At present, only one floating nuclear power plant is in operation globally

By Reuters, October 29, 2026

MOSCOW, Oct 28 (Reuters) – Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom could supply floating nuclear power plants to coastal African countries and is in advanced discussions with at least four nations, senior company ​executives said on Wednesday at a Russia-Africa Summit.

Vladimir Aptekarev, deputy head of Rosatom’s ‌machine-building division, said that 38 of Africa’s more than 50 countries have sufficient coastline to host a Russian-made floating power unit.

At present, only one floating nuclear power plant is in operation globally, in Russia’s remote ​Chukotka region, dating from 2020. Floating plants use smaller reactors, are contained within ​a vessel which can be towed to a destination and require less infrastructure ⁠on land. They also make it possible to secure a new source of energy ​quickly and at a lower cost.

“As a first step, a floating nuclear power unit can serve ​as a good entry point, enabling a country both to address its energy needs and to join the nuclear club,” said Aptekarev.

Rosatom is proposing implementing such projects under a power purchase agreement (PPA) model, with servicing ​and refuelling cycles carried out in Russia, allowing the unit to operate for up to ​60 years.

…………………………………..Rosatom Chief Executive ​Alexei Likhachev told ⁠reporters the company is in advanced discussions on potential floating nuclear power plant projects with Egypt, Togo, Namibia and Tanzania.

For international markets, Rosatom is offering floating power units with a capacity of 100 megawatts with RITM-200M reactors adapted for warm ⁠climates.

Rosatom has ​already reached an agreement with Indonesia on what it describes ​as the world’s first export supplies of electricity generated by two floating nuclear power units with a combined capacity ​of 200 megawatts.

November 1, 2026 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Russia, Small Modular Nuclear Reactors