14 African Agency: The Case of Russian Nuclear Programmes in Egypt, Ghana, South Africa and Zambia
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Dzvinka Kachur
Abstract
Access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy is one of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Currently, almost 94 per cent of energy in Africa is generated from fossil fuels, perpetuating climate change risks. Africa has the fastest growing population and economy and thus requires just energy transitions that would tackle poverty, industrialization and decarbonization simultaneously. Nuclear energy is one of the decarbonized options that the African Union is actively working on with the International Atomic Energy Agency for sustainable development in Africa. But to what extent do geopolitical influences shape different African countries’ energy choices? China, France, Russia, South Korea and the US are offering their nuclear technologies to African countries. However, the Russian state-owned enterprise Rosatom has the largest number of contracts signed and is seen as a leader in promoting nuclear energy on the continent. This chapter investigates the geopolitical influences that shape the development of nuclear aspirations on the continent from the other end, focusing on the agency of South Africa, Egypt, Ghana and Zambia in their bilateral relations with Russia.
Abstract
Access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy is one of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Currently, almost 94 per cent of energy in Africa is generated from fossil fuels, perpetuating climate change risks. Africa has the fastest growing population and economy and thus requires just energy transitions that would tackle poverty, industrialization and decarbonization simultaneously. Nuclear energy is one of the decarbonized options that the African Union is actively working on with the International Atomic Energy Agency for sustainable development in Africa. But to what extent do geopolitical influences shape different African countries’ energy choices? China, France, Russia, South Korea and the US are offering their nuclear technologies to African countries. However, the Russian state-owned enterprise Rosatom has the largest number of contracts signed and is seen as a leader in promoting nuclear energy on the continent. This chapter investigates the geopolitical influences that shape the development of nuclear aspirations on the continent from the other end, focusing on the agency of South Africa, Egypt, Ghana and Zambia in their bilateral relations with Russia.
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents v
- List of Figure and Tables vii
- List of Abbreviations viii
- Notes on Contributors x
- Acknowledgements xiv
- Introducing African Diplomacy as a Field of Study 1
- An Overview of the Evolution of Diplomacy in Europe and Africa 11
- Common African Positions as Diplomatic Instruments 29
- South Africa’s Economic Diplomacy and the African Continental Free Trade Agreement: Challenges and Prospects 42
- Prospects for Smart Diplomacy and Its Use in the Foreign Policies of African Small Island Developing States 56
- Maritime Diplomacy and the African Maritime Agenda 71
- Twitter/X Diplomacy and Its Use and Practice in Africa 88
- The Quiet Diplomacy of the Chibok Abductions 105
- A Diplomatic Conduit: The Role of Science Diplomacy in Africa 121
- Africa’s Health Diplomacy 137
- Ghana’s Cultural Diplomacy 150
- Morocco’s Cultural Diplomacy with Africa 163
- Understanding Knowledge Diplomacy in Africa 178
- African Agency: The Case of Russian Nuclear Programmes in Egypt, Ghana, South Africa and Zambia 196
- Challenges and Triumphs for Women Leaders in African Diplomacy 221
- African Diplomacy: An Agenda for Practice and Research 236
- Index 248
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents v
- List of Figure and Tables vii
- List of Abbreviations viii
- Notes on Contributors x
- Acknowledgements xiv
- Introducing African Diplomacy as a Field of Study 1
- An Overview of the Evolution of Diplomacy in Europe and Africa 11
- Common African Positions as Diplomatic Instruments 29
- South Africa’s Economic Diplomacy and the African Continental Free Trade Agreement: Challenges and Prospects 42
- Prospects for Smart Diplomacy and Its Use in the Foreign Policies of African Small Island Developing States 56
- Maritime Diplomacy and the African Maritime Agenda 71
- Twitter/X Diplomacy and Its Use and Practice in Africa 88
- The Quiet Diplomacy of the Chibok Abductions 105
- A Diplomatic Conduit: The Role of Science Diplomacy in Africa 121
- Africa’s Health Diplomacy 137
- Ghana’s Cultural Diplomacy 150
- Morocco’s Cultural Diplomacy with Africa 163
- Understanding Knowledge Diplomacy in Africa 178
- African Agency: The Case of Russian Nuclear Programmes in Egypt, Ghana, South Africa and Zambia 196
- Challenges and Triumphs for Women Leaders in African Diplomacy 221
- African Diplomacy: An Agenda for Practice and Research 236
- Index 248
