(MENAFN) Russia has expressed its commitment to helping Africa achieve energy and economic sovereignty without claiming the continent’s resources, Tatyana Dovgalenko, head of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s Africa Partnership Department, said.

Speaking at the Russia-Africa session of the Russian Energy Week forum in Moscow on Wednesday, Dovgalenko emphasized that Moscow’s approach is based on mutual benefit rather than resource extraction. “We are ready to lend a helping hand in the spirit of continuity, and we are not laying claim to Africa’s resources. Our country is rich in its own resources – we have no such goal,” she said. “We are focused on building potential on the continent.”

Dovgalenko highlighted that energy sovereignty is essential for Africa to become “a distinctive and influential center of global development,” noting that energy is the lifeblood of any economy. She added that Russia plans to train engineering and technical specialists for Africa’s oil and gas sector. “Personnel are everything,” she said, emphasizing Russia’s readiness to educate professionals in oil and gas, nuclear physics, engineering, and related fields.

Russian Deputy Energy Minister Roman Marshavin underscored Africa’s vast potential for collaborative energy projects. Citing UN projections that by 2050 half of the world’s children will be born in Africa, he noted that rapid population growth will drive GDP and energy demand, creating long-term opportunities for cooperation.

Marshavin also highlighted the importance of expanding electricity access through initiatives likened to an “African GOELRO,” referencing the Soviet Union’s 1920s national electrification program. “Russia, with the necessary experience and expertise, is ready to participate in electrification projects and help our partners,” he said.

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