Madar (Bamako) - Mali's Mines Minister, Prof. Amadou Keita, signed two agreements with Russian company ZarubezhGeologia in Moscow on Wednesday, 28 October 2026, on the sidelines of the third Russia-Africa summit, Malijet reported on Thursday, 29 October.
The first agreement covers national geological mapping at a scale of 1:200,000. It is meant to chart areas of geological and mining interest and identify "promotion zones" considered favourable for prospecting, which the state can showcase to investors.
The second provides for a national geological information system to store, display and analyse data on Mali's subsoil. According to the same source, staff of the National Directorate of Geology and Mines have already been trained to interpret satellite imagery.
The minister also led a panel on the 2023 Mining Code, which raised the state's stake in mining projects to 30% and that of local investors to 5%.
Keita sought to reassure foreign partners, including Rosatom, which is involved in a lithium project in Mali, saying the country will respect investments made on its soil. Mali is attending the 28-29 October summit with a delegation led by transition president Gen. Assimi Goita.
