SIRIUS /Federal Territory/, March 26. /TASS/. Mali and Russia cooperate on a win-win basis in lithium mining, Mines Minister of Mali Amadou Keita said at the Atomexpo-2024 forum. The Russian side is helping to launch this industry in the country, while international corporations are keeping the republic from developing fields on its own, he added.
"I would like to note Mali’s promising outlook in this area. Africa is a promising region in terms of resources, lithium in particular. For us it is a strategic product, with lithium playing an important role in [our] growth. Among countries that have this resource are the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zimbabwe, Mali, Malawi and Ghana. According to our estimates, reserves may reach 26 mln tons," the minister said.
"Amid the challenging geopolitical environment we see many countries trying to diversify where they get lithium from, and Africa is to take its place among the suppliers," the official stressed. "International corporations are largely involved in implementing these projects in Mali, and they virtually deprive us of the possibility to develop fields independently and pursue export policy," he noted, adding that the country has considerable reserves in the south and in the west.
"We are one of the largest producers in West Africa, due to which Mali has decided to develop a new strategy of economic development around lithium," Keita said. "We work in partnership on a mutually beneficial basis with friendly countries, especially Russia," the minister said. "This partnership is very encouraging for us. Here we have in mind exploration, production and transfer of technology, as well as Russia’s help in creating an industry that will produce a finished product. Africa is moving forward with a lithium-based economy," he emphasized.