Russia + GCC want to partner on renewables, nuclear power, and green hydrogen: The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Russia are adopting a joint action plan for 2023 to 2028 that will see them set up frameworks for partnership in renewables, nuclear power, energy efficiency, circular carbon economy, and green hydrogen production, the Saudi Press Agency reports. The announcement was made during the joint ministerial meeting of strategic dialogue between the Gulf Cooperation Council and the Russian Federation on Monday.

Russia is already making nuclear moves in the region: Russia’s state-owned Rosatom nuclear power company is building Egypt’s Dabaa nuclear plant. Egypt and Rosatom began construction on the USD 30 bn plant in July 2022 and it should come online at the start of the next decade. Rosatom was contracted in 2015 to handle the construction and provide fuel for the plant, which will hold four 1.2 GW reactors. 85% of the facility’s financing is through a USD 25 bn loan from Russia. The Egyptian Nuclear & Radiological Regulatory Authority (ENRRA) granted permission for the construction of the plant’s third reactor in April.

Rosatom is also looking at opportunities in Algeria: Earlier this month, a delegation from the company met with Algeria’s Energy and Mining Minister Mohamed Arkab to explore cooperation opportunities in nuclear power, according to a statement.

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