Sierra Leone seeks to strengthen mining cooperation with Russia, the country's Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources, Julius Mattai, told Sputnik on the sidelines of the Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) 2024, taking place on June 5-8.
Other statements by Mattai:
Sierra Leone is to hold talks with a Russian group of diamond mining companies, Alrosa, which has expressed interest in mining diamonds in the country;
The West African country is negotiating with a Russia-based aluminum company, Rusal, to open a bauxite mining concession on its territory;
Freetown has signed a memorandum of understanding with Zarubezhgeologia, the international projects' operator for the largest Russian geological holding, Rosgeo. The document will allow Zarubezhgeologia to work in the country's fossil sector.
Earlier in the day, Mattai highlighted that his country "relys on" Russia, which can share its experience in geology and hydrogeology to help the West African nation tackle the problem of access to clean water.