Congo Seeks Opportunities for Energy Cooperation With Russia

Congo wants to translate common interests with Russia into an economic and industrial dimension, Bruno Itoua, Minister of Hydrocarbons of the Republic of Congo, told Sputnik Africa on the sidelines of the Russian Energy Week.

"There are new fields, new projects in which not only Lukoil but also Zarubezhneft and Rosatom could participate in terms of renewable energy. And why not nuclear energy for civilian needs," stated Itoua, outlining fields for the energy cooperation.

Lukoil and Zarubezhneft are Russian oil companies, while Rosatom is the country's state nuclear technology firm.

With Russian support, a new major pipeline project for oil products could transform Congo into a regional refining hub. Its implementation will make it possible to "supply not only Congo but the entire sub-region," Bruno Itoua stated.

The minister emphasized the region's huge population of 100 million people and the significant challenges they face in accessing petroleum products.

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He explained that the pipeline would link their coastal city of Pointe-Noire to the capital, Brazzaville, and transport petroleum products.

"This can also be done in close and direct cooperation with Russia, which is an oil country, which also produces [...] petroleum products. Together, we can imagine going further in refining by increasing refining capacity and making Pointe-Noire a refining hub for Central Africa," said Itoua, acknowledging Congo's need for a larger refinery.

'Find Better Governance'

The global monetary system is "not managed very fairly by all parts of the world," Itoua noted. While a few countries hold significant influence over the management of the international monetary system, others have no voice, the Congolese minister said.

"If we can't find better governance that works for everyone, and some make the rules and enforce them on others, we probably need to think about a monetary alternative," Itoua stated.

He said that Congo showed interest in the future BRICS payment system aimed at ensuring the independent functioning of foreign trade, which was presented by Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday.

"If [...] this alternative that could be proposed for foreign trade is of good quality, yes, we will be a candidate to participate," Burno Itoua noted.

This issue was notably raised during a recent one-on-one meeting between the Russian and Congolese presidents, where the latter was invited to the next meeting on this subject in November in Russia.

'If We Cannot Express Ourselves, There is No Democracy'

Bruno Itoua also spoke about the sanctions against Sputnik and RT, saying that freedom of the press is undermined by the very same people who champion democracy.

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He stressed that the world must accept the diversity of opinion because there cannot be one way of thinking.

"If we cannot express ourselves, there is no democracy. [...] We support multilateralism, of course, a multipolar world where we have to accept the differences of opinion," said Itoua.

The Russian Energy Week is taking place in Moscow from September 26 to 28. Sputnik is the forum's information partner.