Russia's Rosatom and the Ministry of Infrastructure of Rwanda have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. The document was signed on 22 June by Rosatom Deputy Director General Nikolay Spassky and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Rwanda to the Russian Federation Jeanne d'Arc Mujawamariya.

Spassky and Mujawamariya at the signing ceremony (Image: Rosatom)

The MoU establishes the legal basis for the implementation of bilateral cooperation in a wide range of areas, Rosatom said yesterday. These include the development of nuclear infrastructure in Rwanda and programmes aimed at raising awareness of nuclear technologies and their applications, as well as the use of radioisotopes and radiation technologies in manufacturing, agriculture and healthcare.

The parties will create joint working groups to identify specific projects within the cooperation agreement and preparation of an inter-governmental agreement is envisaged.

Rosatom signed a similar MoU in February with the Ministry of Scientific Research and Technological Innovations of the Republic of Congo, and with the Kenyan Council for nuclear energy in June 2016.