Africa To Become Russia’s Third Largest Coal Importer and Significant NPP Operator.

Jerry
By Jerry
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Africa has the potential to become a major market for Russian coal exports and could rank third after China and India in terms of supply volumes, according to Russian Deputy Energy Minister Dmitry Islamov.

He noted that Africa’s population is expected to exceed 1 billion in the coming decades, positioning the continent as a major consumer of energy in the long term. According to Islamov, China is currently the leading buyer of Russian coal, with Moscow planning to increase its share of the Chinese market from 25% to 33% in the future. He said China is primarily a destination for thermal coal, which is used in power generation, while India serves as a key buyer of coking coal, a vital component in steel production.

He said “We need all directions – East, Northwest and South. After China and India the third region in terms of potential is Africa, where more than 1 billion people will live in the coming decades.”

Russia has strengthened its energy cooperation with several African countries in recent years. At the 2023 Russia-Africa Summit in St. Petersburg, Putin announced that more than 30 energy projects with a combined capacity of approximately 3.7 gigawatts were ongoing across the continent. The initiatives, according to the president, span oil and gas field development in countries including AlgeriaEgyptCameroonNigeria, and the Republic of the Congo. Russian companies have also explored energy partnerships in South Africa, and Zimbabwe, particularly in coal logistics, power infrastructure, and industrial development.

Source: Russiaspivottoasia

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