L. Fituni, I. Abramova Resource Potential of Africa and Russia's ...

Senegal is an African country where Russian presence in the
mining and prospecting sphere in not very pronounced. At a request
of the Senegal government Soviet geologists surveyed in 1971–1973
en area of 2,000 square kilometers in Eastern Senegal and prospected
for gold in the area between the Paleme River and the Gambia
River, and for gold placer deposits in the middle reaches of the
Paleme River; two promising deposits were discovered – Sabodala
and Kerekunda.
Along Senegal's Atlantic coast black sands can be found bearing
titanium minerals. However, due to depletion of many deposits, the
government of Senegal contracted Russian company "Tsvetmetpromexport"
to investigate coastal sands more thoroughly. The materials
presented to the Senegal government point to the expediency
of mining and processing titanium-bearing sands.
With a view to creating requisites for the development of the mining
industry the government of Tanzania has drawn up a program of
a systematic exploration of natural resources. In the early 1970s, with
the participation of Soviet specialists, geological surveys were carried
out over an area of 42,000 square kilometers, maps were compiled
and prospecting work was conducted for gold, lead, zinc, copper and
other solid minerals in the Luna and Mranda regions, which provided
a basis for planning further geological work.
In the last years of its existence the Soviet Union participated in
geological work in Angola, Mozambique, Madagascar, Ethiopia and
other countries, which allowed to carry some of the results into post-
Soviet bilateral cooperation.
For example, with regard to current facilities, it can be said that
in the 2000s development of Angola's diamond deposits has become
one of the main areas of economic cooperation. The country
has successfully operated the Katoka and Luo diamond mines with
the involvement of the Russian company ALROSA; joint exploration
of the Kakolu deposit is underway.
In Botswana, Norilsk Nickel acquired 85% shares of Tati
Nickel as a result of the LionOre Mining International Limited acquisition
on 28 June 2007. The Botswana government owns the remaining
15% in Tati Nickel. Tati Nickel includes the Phoenix open
120