(MENAFN) Russia sees Africa as a promising market for its coal exports, potentially becoming the third-largest destination after China and India, according to Deputy Energy Minister Dmitry Islamov in a TASS interview. With Africa’s population projected to exceed one billion in the coming decades, the continent is poised to become a significant energy consumer.

Islamov explained that China remains Russia’s largest coal buyer, with plans to increase Moscow’s market share there from 25% to 33%. China primarily imports thermal coal for power generation, while India is a major purchaser of coking coal used in steelmaking.

“We need to develop all directions – east, northwest, and south,” Islamov said, emphasizing Africa’s growing importance as a future market.

This statement follows new government measures approved by President Vladimir Putin in May aimed at supporting the coal sector, including financial aid for coal companies and lowering transportation costs, as reported by Kommersant.

In recent years, Russia has expanded its energy cooperation across Africa. At the 2023 Russia-Africa Summit, Putin announced over 30 ongoing energy projects totaling around 3.7 gigawatts, covering oil and gas development in Algeria, Egypt, Cameroon, Nigeria, and the Republic of the Congo. Russian firms are also involved in coal logistics, power infrastructure, and industrial development in South Africa, Angola, and Zimbabwe.

Recently, Rosatom signed nuclear energy cooperation agreements with Mali and Burkina Faso, focusing on infrastructure, healthcare, agriculture, and specialist training. Additionally, Rosatom is constructing Egypt’s first nuclear power plant at El Dabaa, a major project co-financed by Russia and Egypt, with Russia supplying nuclear fuel throughout its operation.

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