Ethiopia, Russia sign non-disclosure agreement for nuclear power project

By Sadik Kedir

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AA) - Ethiopia and Russia signed a non-disclosure agreement Wednesday to protect confidential information linked to the development of Ethiopia’s first nuclear power project, officials said.

Reports by the state-run Ethiopian News Agency indicated that the pact was signed in Moscow by Sandokan Debebe, commissioner of the Ethiopian Nuclear Energy Commission, and Andrey Rozhdestvin, director general of Rosatom Energy Projects.

According to the report, the deal establishes a legal framework for sharing and safeguarding sensitive technical and strategic data.

The agreement was signed during the first official joint meeting between the two sides, as Ethiopian officials are in Russia for a five-day visit that began on Monday to advance a roadmap and action plan agreed upon by the two countries in Sept. 2025.

The agreement, signed by Ethiopian Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos and Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachev, outlines how Russia will assist in the construction of a nuclear facility in Ethiopia that will use VVER-1200 reactor technology with modern safety features.

Ethiopian authorities said securing classified information is standard practice in nuclear cooperation.

The project follows discussions between Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Russian President Vladimir Putin aimed at diversifying Ethiopia’s energy supply, though officials said the initiative remains in the early planning stages.