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Sierra Leone is signaling a bold shift in its energy diplomacy, using the global stage of the Russian Energy Week International Forum to project itself as Africa’s next frontier for energy transformation.
Leading the charge, Deputy Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources, Hon. Umaru Napoleon Koroma, Esq., told a high-level audience in Moscow that Sierra Leone is ready to move beyond exporting raw minerals to building a self-sufficient, value-driven industrial economy-powered by strategic energy partnerships.
“We need partners to develop our energy sector,” Minister Koroma declared. “We want Sierra Leone to manufacture its own iron , it’s time for Russia, it’s time for partnership.”
Koroma’s remarks were more than an investment pitch; they were a call for a new model of African development, one that harnesses the continent’s resources to fuel industrialization, not dependency.
He underscored that energy remains the missing link in Sierra Leone’s growth equation, limiting progress across vital sectors such as mining, agriculture, education, ICT, and healthcare.
Positioning energy as the “bedrock of development,” he emphasized that the government’s long-term vision is to generate and utilize domestic power to unlock value chains, create jobs, and expand exports.
The forum also marked a symbolic renewal of ties between Sierra Leone and Russia, whose cooperation dates back to the era of African independence movements.
By signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the mining ministries of both nations, Sierra Leone signaled its intent to translate historical friendship into practical economic collaboration.
Koroma’s message resonated with the forum’s broader theme “Russia-Africa: Towards the Practical Implementation of Energy Projects”, where he joined fellow African and Russian policymakers in mapping out pathways for sustainable partnerships in the global energy transition.
Adding momentum to the country’s pitch, Mr. Foday Bangali Lahai Mansaray, Director General of the Petroleum Directorate, outlined a compelling case for investment in Sierra Leone’s oil and gas reserves.
He cited recent legal and regulatory reforms designed to accelerate deals and safeguard investors’ interests, marking a new era of transparency and competitiveness in the energy sector.
“What is absolutely key when negotiating a contract is speed,” Mansaray noted. “Sierra Leone has created laws that are conducive to business, ensuring a favorable environment for investors.”
His remarks targeted both Russian giants like Gazprom Neft, Rosneft, and Lukoil, and global players such as Total Energies and Shell, inviting them to help build what he described as a “dynamic and forward-looking energy industry.”
On the sidelines, the Sierra Leone delegation, led by Hon. Mathew Sahr Nyuma, Leader of Government Business in Parliament, and Ambassador Mohamed Yongawo, held productive bilateral meetings with Gazprom Neft executives, exploring concrete investment prospects in upstream oil exploration and power generation.
For Sierra Leone, the engagement in Moscow represents more than diplomacy; it’s part of a larger economic realignment strategy aimed at positioning the country as a credible player in the global energy transition.
By leveraging partnerships with major powers like Russia, Freetown aims to turn its natural wealth into energy security, industrial productivity, and sustainable growth for its citizens
Source: https://www.facebook.com/100068969597270/posts/1128656812776628/?mibextid=rS40aB7S9Ucbxw6v
