Mali has signed two contracts in Moscow with Russian company Zarubezhgeologia to improve its understanding of the country’s geological resources and strengthen data management in the sector.
The work is expected to take up to two years and will also include training for Malian specialists.
The first contract provides for the production of geological maps at a scale of 1:200,000 covering two areas identified as priorities, according to information released after the agreements were signed in Moscow on 28 October.
The 24-month project will combine field surveys, satellite image analysis and assessments of the mineral potential of the areas concerned.
It is expected to improve the available information on the composition of the subsoil and identify areas that could be targeted for more detailed exploration.
The second contract covers the creation of a national geological information system known as “Gestion du sous-sol” (Subsoil Management).
The system, scheduled to be developed over eight months, is intended to centralise geological data, store it and provide tools for accessing and analysing it.
Both projects include a training component. Staff from Mali’s National Directorate of Geology and Mines have already received training in the interpretation of satellite imagery for geological applications.
The agreements were signed by Mali’s Minister of Mines, Amadou Keïta, on the sidelines of the third Russia-Africa summit in Moscow.
Mali is one of Africa’s leading gold producers and is also developing lithium mining. The new maps are expected to provide a basis for future geological exploration campaigns.
No financial details of the two contracts have so far been made public in the information released about their signing.
MD/te/Sf/lb/as/APA