Russian state-owned company RosGeo and South Sudan's Mining Ministry signed an agreement on mapping the African state's deposits of natural resources, Russian media reported, citing South Sudan's ambassador to Moscow, Chol Tong Mayay.
The diplomat underlined that geological exploration has never been carried out in our country before. The ambassador also noted that South Sudan has large reserves of natural resources, but has only a rough idea of their quantity.
According to the outlet, the agreement states that the geological mapping should be completed within two years. Mayay also highlighted that RosGeo worked in Sudan before South Sudan became independent in 2011. Russia has "some idea" about the natural resources of the country, he said.
In addition, the ambassador stressed that it seems that now is the right time for RosGeo to carry out the relevant studies on the state's territory.
During the first Russia-Africa Summit in Sochi in 2019, RosGeo and South Sudan's mining ministry signed a memorandum of understanding, which identified the key priorities for cooperation between the parties.
At the second Russia-Africa Summit, which took place in late July 2023, South Sudanese Mining Minister Martin Gama Abucha revealed that the company is expected to complete a geological survey in South Sudan in two to three months for the purpose of creating a geological map of the African country.
On September 28, at the meeting with Kiir, Putin stressed that in the field of economic partnership between South Sudan and Russia "much remains to be done."
After this meeting, the African country's foreign minister told Sputnik Africa in an exclusive interview that the Russian enterprises are welcome to explore South Sudan in various fields, including oil, minerals, agriculture, industrialization and others.