By Festus J. Lahai, Information Attaché, Embassy of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Moscow, Russian Federation
Sierra Leone’s Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources, Julius Mattai, has called on African countries to move beyond exporting raw minerals and focus on value addition, processing and industrialisation to maximise the benefits of their natural resources.
Speaking during a panel discussion at the Third Russia-Africa Summit in Moscow, under the theme “From Extraction to Prosperity: Subsoil Resources as the Bedrock of National Well-Being,” Minister Mattai said Africa’s mineral wealth could only contribute meaningfully to national development through investment in knowledge, good governance, processing and industrialisation.
Drawing on his personal experience, Mattai recalled arriving in Russia 40 years ago as a geology student, describing the cooperation between Sierra Leone and the former Soviet Union, and now the Russian Federation, as an important part of his professional journey.
He noted that mineral resources alone do not guarantee prosperity, stressing that countries must have the knowledge, skilled manpower, effective management and markets needed to turn natural resources into economic benefits.
The minister highlighted Sierra Leone’s mineral potential, including its significant iron ore deposits and newly identified critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, nickel and coltan. He disclosed that the country’s first lithium mine is currently under construction.
He also pointed to the nationwide airborne geophysical survey being undertaken to improve geological data and reduce exploration risks for investors. However, he stressed that further exploration and drilling are necessary to convert identified mineral anomalies into commercially viable resources and reserves.
Mattai said the government was pursuing a new mining development approach that prioritises the entire value chain, from extraction and processing to beneficiation, smelting, refining, fabrication and manufacturing, rather than relying on the export of raw materials.
He further highlighted the review of the Mines and Minerals Development Act to strengthen transparency and provide a stable legal and fiscal environment for investors.
The minister also emphasised the importance of reliable electricity, roads and port facilities, noting that industrialisation and mineral processing would remain difficult without adequate infrastructure. He called for transparency and accountability in the management of mining revenues.
Mattai disclosed that Sierra Leone signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Zarubezhgeologia, a subsidiary of Rosgeo, in June 2024 to undertake a comprehensive assessment of the country’s mineral resources and deepen understanding of its geology.
The summit discussion was attended by Minister of Transport and Aviation, Ambassador Col. (Rtd.) Alhaji Fanday Turay; Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to Russia, Mohamed Yongawo; Chairman of the National Minerals Agency, Ing. Dabo Hadji; and other senior government officials and representatives of key institutions.
