Mali is the next African country trying to do take control over their mining sector.
The West African country is establishing a national gold refinery in partnership with the Russian company Yadran.
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The refinery will be built in Bamako, the nation’s capital and expected to process 200 tons of gold annually.
This project is part of Mali’s strategy to gain greater control over its gold production, one of Africa’s largest, and retain more economic value locally.
One positive thing development brings to any country is creation of jobs and this project isn’t exception.
Reports says the project is expected to create over 1,500 jobs during construction and hundreds of permanent roles.
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Additionally, it will also be aimed at supporting local artisanal miners through improved gold traceability systems.
The partnership reflects Mali’s geopolitical shift toward Russia, especially since the 2021 military junta, moving away from traditional Western allies like France.