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

Nigeria’s
Share in
Russia’s
Imports
Nigeria’s
Share
in Global
Import
Trade
balance
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
0.005 0.01 0.01 0.002 0.001 0.001 0.003 0.003
0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.3 …
63.0 68.2 67.0 154.5 142.4 145.4 275.7 269.7
The company RUSAL is efficiently working in Nigeria. It acquired
almost 80% of the shares of the aluminum producer
ALSKON and invested about $300 million to upgrade the plant.
Construction of a 60-MW power plant with gas turbines manufactured
by Salyut is continuing in Etelbou (Bayelsa State) with involvement
of the Russian company ASEN. Successful completion
of this project may open the Nigerian market to Russian power plant
products for a long time to come.
The most notable event in relations between Russia and Nigeria
during 2009 was the visit by Russian President Medvedev; the primary
goal of his visit was to strengthen trade and economic cooperation.
This was the first visit by a Russian head of state to Nigeria in
the history of bilateral relations.
During the visit, Medvedev made an important political announcement
about Russia's readiness to support Nigeria's advancement
to the UN Security Council.
The visit was concluded with the signing of a Joint Communiqué
by the two heads of state setting forth their vision for the future
development of bilateral relations. A number of documents
were signed in their presence, most notably two intergovernmental
agreements on cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy, an
agreement on the encouragement and mutual protection of investments
and a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the
exploration and use of space for peaceful purposes.
In April 2009, The United Metallurgical Company (Russia)
joined the French company Total and NOC to sign a contract for
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