Morocco Partners with Russia to Develop Nuclear Energy Infrastructure

With the help of Russian technology, Morocco could be among the very few countries to have their own nuclear power plants in the near future. According to an agreement signed on October 12, 2022 between Morocco and the Russian state-owned company Rosatom, "Russia will help Morocco in the creation and improvement of nuclear energy infrastructure, the design and construction of nuclear reactors, as well as desalination plants and elementary particle accelerators," recalls La Razón.

Moscow will also provide Rabat with assistance in the management of radioactive waste and fuel, as well as in the exploration and development of uranium deposits. Morocco currently operates a TRIGA Mark II research reactor, integrated into the National Center for Energy, Sciences and Nuclear Technologies (CNESTEN). This network is Morocco’s largest nuclear facility and contributes to research and training in the fields of nuclear medicine, industrial applications and radioactive waste management.

At the 2023 Scientific Forum organized by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in September, Morocco indicated that it was studying the possibility of integrating nuclear energy into its energy mix to ensure a reliable energy supply. "Morocco is clearly committed to small modular reactors, as they offer many advantages, such as flexibility of integration," said Leila Benali, Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development.

The minister also announced the designation by the IAEA of CNESTEN as an International Center based on Research Reactors (ICERR). "Morocco’s national infrastructure, now strengthened by this recognition, is open to the benefit of the African continent and is focused on capacity building," added Benali. Within a few years, 12 or 13 countries including Morocco, Ghana, Nigeria, Namibia, Kenya, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and the Philippines will have their own nuclear power plants, Rafael Mariano Grossi, the IAEA Director General, announced on Tuesday in Paris.