Sierra Leone’s Minister of Mines, Mineral Resources Wraps Up Successful Russian Tour with High Hopes

Festus J. Lahai
Nov 29, 2023
2 min read

Korovy Val Moscow, Russia - Wednesday 29 November 2023 - Hon. Julius Daniel Mattai, Sierra Leone's Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources concluded a week-long tour in the Russian Federation accompanied by Ing Hadji Dabo, Director General of the National Mineral Agency (NMA), and other senior colleagues from the Agency.

The Minister and the Director General were invited to Moscow to participate in an international conference on issues pertinent to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Whilst in Moscow Hon. Julius Mattai used the opportunity to engage in productive high-level bilateral talks.

One such meeting was with the Russian Minister of Natural Resources in Moscow, aimed at fostering and deepening collaboration in the mining sector.

During their meeting, Alexandriovich Alexander Kozlov, the Russian Minister of Natural Resources and Ecology, underscored the enduring partnership between Sierra Leone and Russia, tracing it back to the Soviet era. Minister Kozlov expressed gratitude for the partnership in natural and mineral resources( and reminded the visiting party of an existing draft Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which requires signing.

Russia's commitment to aiding Sierra Leone's mining sector was highlighted. “Russia was prepared to provide advanced 21st-century equipments and expertise in geology and technology” - Minister Kozlov stated.

In fruitful engagements with leading diamond mining company ALROSA, Minister Mattai emphasized Sierra Leone's openness to potential partnerships and investment in the mining sector.

"This is not our first meeting, we met during the first Russia-Africa Summit in Sochi in 2019 and we are here to continue the discussion we started some years ago," Minister Mattai stated.

The Minister and his team received a warm reception during a tour of production and polishing rooms at ALROSA, with the CEO expressing interest in a reciprocal visit to Sierra Leone with his team.

Further engagements with RUSAL and Zarubehgeologia JSC explored partnerships and investment possibilities in Sierra Leone's mining and mineral sector. Minister Mattai expressed confidence that under President Julius Maada Bio's administration, the country's rebranding efforts would soon attract world-class mining companies in productive engagements.

Hon. Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources Mr Julius Mattai ended his business engagement with an insightful PowerPoint presentation at RUDN University on the topic: Opportunities and Challenges of Addressing UN SDG 9 in Sierra Leone's Mining Sector.

The Sierra Leonean delegation also engaged with Sierra Leone students studying in the Russian Federation, which wrapped up their eventful visit.