Second Summit
Russia–Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum

News

Russia to continue working on joint energy projects in Africa

Adviser to the Russian President Anton Kobyakov met with Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber NJ Ayuk in Moscow. They discussed the development of joint Russian-African projects in the energy sector and how to ensure Africa is duly represented at the Roscongress Foundation’s flagship events in response to orders issued by the Russian President and African leaders following the Russia–Africa summits of 2019 and 2023.

Plans to establish a special Russia–Africa Bureau to coordinate joint initiatives in the energy sector in Africa received particular attention during the meeting along with discussion of the African Energy Chamber’s current plans and objectives for the development of its own flagship African Energy Week project, among others.

Regarding the current state of economic relations between Russia and Africa, Anton Kobyakov emphasized the willingness of Russia’s African colleagues to apply Russian solutions to the challenges they face. “Russia recently received invitations to take part in significant energy projects, oil refineries, renewable energy facilities, and other critical infrastructure in a number of African states. It is a priority for Russia to help create these and other capacities to ensure the energy security of the African continent. The Russia–Africa events held in Russia lend this business dialogue added significance and enjoy support from the top government officials,” Anton Kobyakov said.

Discussion also touched on liquefied natural gas and technologically advanced container deliveries, with Anton Kobyakov commenting on the usefulness of LNG as a household fuel and fuel for transport. “We’re talking about a multi-functional, modern transport technology that makes it possible to use conventional container ships, and because there is no need for regasification, the product immediately becomes more accessible to African consumers,” he said.

NJ Ayuk also mentioned that Africa was brimming with ideas and projects. “Many members of the African Energy Chamber provide services in the energy sector. There are a great many oil and coal deposits in Africa, and reclamation projects are already underway, to which end we recommend that African companies avail themselves of the services of Russian organizations, including the reclamation of old fields. We see great potential in cooperation with Russia and are open to all endeavors and projects, especially in the energy sector,” NJ Ayuk said.

Meeting participants discussed the work of the Russian private sector on projects in Africa, the protection of the rights of Russian investors in Africa, and legislative issues of relevance on the continent.

The parties agreed to further pursue Russian-African cooperation and work together on the forum track, with discussion set to continue at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (18–21 June), the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok (3–6 September), Russian Energy Week (15–17 October), and African Energy Week, slated for 29 September to 3 October this year in Cape Town, South Africa’s legislative capital.

All news
4th Russia–Africa: What’s Next? Forum to be held in Moscow
Russian-African partnership is expanding on the forum track
The first Russia–Africa roundtable held at the African Energy Week in Cape Town
Roscongress Foundation presents its projects at the African Energy Week in Cape Town
All news

“We highly value the results of our joint work at the summit. I am sure the achieved results are creating a good foundation for further deepening the Russia-Africa partnership in the interests of our nations’ prosperity and wellbeing.”

President of the Russian Federation
Vladimir Putin

The Russia–Africa Summit, which is taking place in Sochi on 23–24 October 2019, encapsulates the historically friendly relations between the African continent and the Russian Federation. This Summit carries great significance as it is the first of its kind to emerge during a period of major global and international transformations. In response to the aspirations of the people it is representing, the Summit intends to build a comprehensive framework for expanding Russian–African relations into broader horizons of joint cooperation across different fields.

The African nations and Russia share a common understanding of international relations, based on the principles of respect for the rule of international law, equality, non-interference in the internal affairs of states, and the peaceful resolution of disputes. Both sides affirm their commitment to support multilateral actions to oppose new international threats, be they terrorism and extremism in all their forms, or declining growth rates. The two sides share a firm conviction regarding the importance of developing trade flows and supporting mutual investment in such a way as to ensure security, peace and development for the African and Russian people.

African countries have huge potential and opportunities that will allow them, once efforts to streamline their economies have been achieved, to emerge as real global players. In recent years, the nations of this continent have achieved major successes spanning the political, economic, social and administrative spheres. Africa has flourished in terms of growth over the past decade, reaching a continent-wide growth rate of 3.55% in 2018.

The African Union Summit, which was held in Niger in July 2019, continued the efforts of the African countries and saw the African Continental Free Trade Agreement come into force, along with its operational instruments. The agreement is one of the key objectives of Agenda 2063, an African development strategy that has been created to address the African people’s desire for prosperity and decent living standards.

These successes are opening up wide-ranging prospects for cooperation between African countries and the Russian Federation, and confirm the determination of African governments and their people to cooperate with multiple partners in order to establish mutually beneficial relations.

With this in mind, we express our hopes that the Russia–Africa Summit will help in the establishment of constructive strategic relations, based on partnership between two sides across various fields, and in the service of fulfilling the hopes and aspirations of the African people and their friends in Russia.

President of the Arab Republic of Egypt
Abdelfattah ALSISI