Russia, Mali discuss joint lithium and solar projects

Russian and Malian officials on Thursday discussed joint lithium and solar projects in Mali, the West African country's Minister of Economy and Finance Alousseni Sanou said at an event in Moscow.

Mali's mines ministry said in July it had signed a memorandum of understanding with Uranium One Group, a subsidiary of Russian state nuclear firm Rosatom, to develop a lithium project in the southern area of Bougoula.

"We have given all the legal documents, the feasibility tool is underway. And I think that within 24 months the unit will be able to start the first lithium production in Mali," Sanou said on state television broadcaster ORTM on Thursday.

The two parties also discussed the development of a 200 megawatt (MW) solar plant in Sanankoroba, 30 kilometres from Mali's capital Bamako. The plant will be built by Rosatom subsidiary Novawind.

"All the legal documents have been drawn up ... Construction of the plant will begin within five months," Sanou said.

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