Andrey Maslov moderated a roundtable discussion on Russian-African cooperation in the filed of mineral resources

On October 31, 2025, a roundtable discussion entitled «Africa-Russia. Joint Projects and Prospects: Geological, Economic and Social Factors» was held in St. Petersburg as part of the «Russian-African Raw Materials Dialogue» conference. The event, which focused on Russian-African cooperation in the field of using mineral resources and geological exploration, was organized by the Federal Agency for Subsoil Use (Rosnedra). Andrey Maslov, Director of the HSE Center for African Studies, moderated the roundtable.On October 31, 2025, a roundtable discussion entitled "Africa–Russia. Joint Projects and Prospects: Geological, Economic, and Social Factors" was held in St. Petersburg as part of the "Russian-African Resources Dialogue" conference. The event, which focused on Russian-African cooperation in subsoil use and geological exploration, was organized by the Federal Agency for Subsoil Use (Rosnedra). Andrey Maslov, Director of the HSE Center for African Studies, moderated the roundtable.

From the Russian side, representatives from the Russian Ministry of Energy, the Rosatom State Nuclear Energy Corporation, Rosnedra, «Alrosa» group of companies, Zarubezhgeologiya JSC, the All-Russian Scientific-Research Institute Of Mineral Resources named after N.M. Fedorovsky and Norgold took part in the event. The African side was represented by delegations from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Mali.

Opening the roundtable, Andrey Maslov emphasized the importance of strengthening multilateral ties between Russia and African countries in the fields of mineral resources and industrial development. He noted that modern challenges require constructive dialogue based on equal partnership and knowledge sharing:

«Russian approach to African geological exploration based not on the imports, but rather on the development of domestic market, personnel training, and the establishment of local government, research, and educational institutions. Considering the new paradigm of Russian-African relations, Russian companies operating in African mineral markets are moving toward conscious cooperation», Andrey Maslov noted. 

Oleg Kazanov, head of Rosnedra, addressed the roundtable participants with a welcoming address. He emphasized the partnership-like nature of Russian-African relations in the use of mineral resources. 

«Our mineral resource bases are largely complementary. Russia is an industrial power, and despite its own resources, we import a number of critical raw materials — uranium, chromium, manganese, aluminum, and titanium. African countries are rich in these resources. Therefore, we are not competitors but partners, determining the balance of the global market», Oleg Kazanov noted.

Continuing the discussion, representatives of Russian companies shared their succcessful experience of collaboration with African countries on energy projects. Pavel Marinychev, Chief Executive Officer of ALROSA, spoke about the company's long-standing collaboration with Angola and Zimbabwe, emphasizing the importance of corporate social responsibility and participation in regional infrastructure development. Georgy Smirnov, CEO of Norgold, shared his experience implementing projects in Mali and other Sahel countries, noting the role of investments in training local specialists.

The African side proposed developing cooperation in mineral processing and establishing joint ventures. Ilunga Mbuyu-Eddy, Honorary National Member of the Parliament of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, noted that the key challenge for African countries is transition from raw material exports to building their own industrial base. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Sierra Leone to the Russian Federation, Yongavo Mohamed, thanked the Russian side for its attention to education, energy, and personnel training.

At the end of the roundtable, priority areas for further work were identified: the development of joint investment and educational programs, the training of engineering and management personnel, and the creation of a favorable regulatory and infrastructural environment for the implementation of joint projects.

The roundtable confirmed the mutual interest of Russia and African countries in developing sustainable and mutually beneficial cooperation based on the exchange of technology, knowledge, and experience. The event marked an important step in strengthening practical ties and expanding partnerships in geological exploration, production, and industrial cooperation