Burkina Faso has formally completed its accession to the Vienna Convention on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage, marking another milestone in the country's push to establish the legal and regulatory framework for its planned civilian nuclear energy programme in partnership with Russia.
The latest development follows the official deposit of Burkina Faso's Instrument of Accession with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the treaty's depositary.
Announcing the move, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi congratulated Burkina Faso, saying the accession reflects the country's "commitment to strengthening nuclear safety."
The deposit formally brings Burkina Faso into the international legal regime governing civil liability for nuclear damage, months after the country's Transitional Legislative Assembly unanimously approved accession to the convention as part of broader efforts to prepare for nuclear power generation.
The Vienna Convention establishes internationally recognized rules on liability and compensation in the event of a nuclear accident arising from the peaceful use of nuclear energy. It channels liability to the operator of a nuclear installation while providing a clear legal framework to ensure victims can obtain compensation.
