Niger wants to build two 2,000-megawatt nuclear reactors in partnership with Russia's state-owned nuclear corporation Rosatom, its mining minister Ousmane Abarchi said on Thursday.

Abarchi said Niger was also proposing to cooperate with Russia in developing uranium reserves in the West African country.

"Please, let's develop our uranium deposits together," he told a nuclear forum in Moscow, speaking via a translator.

Rosatom chief Alexei Likhachev described the proposals as "extremely interesting."

'Important for Africa'

Niger is among a group of African countries with which Russia is cultivating close ties, including in the area of security.

According to the World Nuclear Association, Niger was the eighth-largest producer of mined uranium in 2024.

Abarchi said the proposed nuclear plants would be developed under the supervision of the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency.

"Yes, we have big ambitions, but this is very important for us. This is very important for the entire African continent," he said.

Rush for nuclear power stations

South Africa is the only country in Africa with an operational nuclear power plant, but reactors are under construction in Egypt.

Several other countries have put forward proposals to build nuclear power stations, including Ghana, Algeria, Ethiopia, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, and Sudan.