Russia has dangled the possibility of building a nuclear power plant in uranium-rich Niger - a vast, arid state on the edge of the Sahara desert that has to import most of its electricity.
It may be deemed impractical and may never happen, but the concept is yet another move by Moscow to seek a geopolitical advantage over Western nations.
Niger has historically exported the metal for further refining in France, but that is changing as the military-led country cuts off ties with the former colonial power.
The uranium-mining operation operated by French nuclear group Orano was nationalised in June, which cleared the way for Russia to put itself forward as a new partner.
It is talking about power generation and medical applications, with a focus on training local expertise under a co-operation agreement signed between Russian-state corporation Rosatom and the Nigerien authorities.
If ever brought to fruition this would be the first nuclear power project in West Africa.
Beyond initial discussions, it is unclear how far down this road things will progress. But already, with this first move, Moscow has shown that it grasps the depth of local frustrations.
For more than five decades, Orano - which until 2018 was known as Areva - mined Niger's uranium to supply the nuclear power sector that is at the heart of France's energy strategy.
The French government-owned company now gets most of its supplies from Canada and Kazakhstan and has projects in development in Mongolia and Uzbekistan. But the Nigerien connection remained significant and freighted with a degree of political and perhaps even cultural weight.
Yet Paris did not share its nuclear energy knowhow with its loyal African supplier. Niger, meanwhile, has to rely largely on coal-fired generation and imports of electricity from Nigeria.
During a visit to Niamey, Russian Energy Minister Sergei Tsivilev declared, "Our task is not simply to participate in uranium mining. We must create an entire system for the development of peaceful atomic energy in Niger."
However, this initiative is not entirely altruistic. It includes economic benefits for Russia and is part of a broader push to displace Western influence from the Sahel region.
The Russians could get the chance to develop the mine in Imouraren, one of the world's largest uranium deposits. This significant asset could cement Russia's already important position in the global production of uranium, a commodity vital for reducing greenhouse gas emissions through nuclear energy.
The context is important: anti-French sentiment has been growing in Niger since the military coup in July 2023. This underscores the increasing desire within Niger to reclaim control over its natural resources and seek partnerships that elevate its own development agenda.
While questions remain about the feasibility and safety of constructing a nuclear facility in a region facing security challenges from militant groups, Russia's proposal has resonated with Niger's emerging priorities and frustrations towards Western engagement.
