Leading specialists from government authorities and companies of Africa’s mineral resource complex who are participating in the one-year educational program “Management of Subsoil Use Facilities” at Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University, were given the opportunity to familiarize themselves with key specialized institutions in Moscow.
For more than 250 years, on the first of September, the Mining University has opened its doors to young men and women who have decided to link their careers with the mineral resource sector. However, 2025 became a special year—in this instance, the student benches were also occupied by individuals who already possessed higher education degrees and substantial professional experience.
The University launched an international professional retraining program, whose participants included mid-level managers from eight African countries: Burundi, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Sudan, Sierra Leone, and South Africa. Competition for a single place in the program amounted to several hundred applicants. The ministries of the countries of the continent and the Mining University selected the best candidates—19 individuals in total—who will convey the knowledge acquired in Russia to their home countries and be able to apply it in the interests of society.
The program is divided into technological and managerial modules. Over the course of one year, its participants study the entire value chain of working with raw materials at Russian enterprises, while simultaneously examining the most effective economic mechanisms of the market. The training consists of theoretical instruction, internships, and practical placements in mineral resource companies, government institutions, as well as in the University’s laboratories and off-campus training facilities. The African participants have already completed drilling practice at the University’s educational and research training ground in Sablino and geophysical practice at the Kuzmolovo facility.
Next on the agenda was an internship within the module “Management, Economics, and Administration.” Logically, it was intended to take place through direct engagement with organizations capable of enriching the “students” with practical managerial skills. The program participants were provided with such an opportunity in Moscow, where over the course of five days they familiarized themselves with the core areas of activity of major Russian institutions, including the Ministry of Energy of the Russian Federation, the Vladimir Vernadsky State Geological Museum, the country’s largest core storage facility—the Aprelevka Branch of VNIGNI (All-Russian Scientific Research Geological Oil Institute), and the Group of Companies “Zyfra,” specializing in software development and digital technologies. In addition, the participants received a warm welcome at the Institute for African Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences and at the international news agency "Rossiya Segodnya".
«The internship was extremely intensive, filled with working meetings and site visits to enterprises. Despite the high workload typical of the end of the year, each organization received the delegation with great responsibility. Moreover, it was members of senior management—those possessing comprehensive expertise in their respective fields—who met with the ‘students.’ They discussed the concept of energy security with a representative of the Minister of Energy, the prospects for joint research with the director of the core storage facility, and the potential of digital solutions with the director responsible for cooperation with mining and metallurgical enterprises at the Zyfra Group of Companies. The African colleagues fully felt themselves to be ambassadors representing their countries at the level of ministries and leading state institutions», -said the program coordinator from the Mining University, Head of the Department of Historical and Dynamic Geology, Doctor of Sciences Irina Talovina.
The trip allowed all participants of the course to feel the attention not only from the university but also from the entire professional community.
«The program is aimed at creating technological sovereignty for Africa through the development of national expertise in the management of mineral resources. The internship began at the decision-making center in this field—the Ministry of Energy. The Russian vision of energy justice and ensuring fair access to energy closely resonates with the perspective of our continent. Therefore, as was rightly emphasized by the Ministry, ‘Russia and Africa are strategic partners, not competitors.’ During an engaging discussion, we came to the conclusion that specialized engineering education remains the cornerstone of sustainable development. This makes the Russian experience extremely important for the qualification of African specialists», - noted Mahmoud Ali Mahmoud Hassan from Sudan.
At the Vladimir Vernadsky State Geological Museum of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the delegation was welcomed by two prominent figures of Russia’s mineral resource complex. A lecture delivered by Valery Yazev, President of the Association of Mining Industrialists of Russia, focused on an analysis of the current state of global energy, the African continent's current position within it, and the steps needed to strengthen its future position.
Alexander Natalenko, Chairman of the Board of Directors of PJSC NOVATEK—the country’s largest independent producer of natural gas—then took the floor.
«Mineral resources are the ‘plankton’ of any state’s economy, a fundamental element of global value chains in commodity production. However, the structure of global reserves is inevitably changing for the worse. According to the American Chemical Society, in the first half of the 22nd century, 44 out of the 94 elements of the periodic table will be depleted. To this must be added the planetary patterns in the distribution of discovered and explored mineral reserves: from 65 to 95 percent of the volumes of each type of mineral resource are concentrated in the subsoil of 7 to 15 countries. In the remaining countries, the share of particular mineral resources ranges from 5 to 35 percent. In my view, this constitutes the main reason for the ongoing struggle for ownership and control over the reserves of countries that possess them. Only the forms of this struggle change—wars, both direct and trade-related; colonial regimes; concessions. The mechanism of sanctions against mineral-producing countries is gaining momentum. The goals and objectives of state policy must be based on the principles of achieving the highest possible level of resource independence, prioritizing self-sufficiency of the national economy, determining acceptable volumes of mineral resource exports, and ensuring the reproduction of reserves», - Alexander Egorovich shared his perspective.
Speaking about the importance of the Mining University’s educational program “Management of Subsoil Use Facilities,” Mr. Natalenko emphasized that mineral resources and knowledge determine and will continue to determine the pace and directions of civilization’s development, and have been and will remain the foundation of the future. Political and economic advantages belong, and will continue to belong, to those states that possess this potential and are able to manage it effectively.
The visit concluded with a performance by the Viktor Popov Grand Children’s Choir, which made a truly remarkable impression on the delegation. One of the soloists was a girl from Nigeria, and the African participants were so deeply moved that almost everyone wished to approach her, ask about her homeland, and express their admiration for her singing.
An equally strong impression was made by the visit to the Aprelevka Branch of VNIGNI, a subordinate organization of the Federal Agency for Subsoil Use. The volume of core material stored here amounts to 2,000,000 linear meters, not including collections of crude oils and paleontological samples. This is not merely a global storage facility, but also a modern site for geological research.
The Director of the Branch, Mechislav Savitsky, conducted a tour of the facility, outlining the entire workflow associated with core handling, including chains for studying the organic composition of oil and the lithological composition of cores. The program participants were able to thoroughly familiarize themselves with advanced laboratories for macro- and microtomography, chromatography, mass spectrometry, pyrolysis, isotope analysis, X-ray fluorescence analysis, as well as centers for petrophysical research and 3D modeling, in addition to the grinding workshop and the organization of storage for unique geological collections.
During the tour, the guests raised numerous questions, which they addressed to the head of the complex. They were interested, for example, in whether cooperation between VNIGNI and African companies is possible and if the institute is ready to carry out joint projects; what quality control methods would be applied in the event of work in African countries; and whether VNIGNI works with solid mineral resources.
«As a representative of the African mining sector, I noted that the infrastructure of the Aprelevka Branch goes beyond simple data archiving—it represents an integrated geoscientific knowledge platform. This model ensures sovereign and optimized management of mineral resources by transforming fragmented primary data into a strategic information system. It serves as a foundation for national planning, value creation, the development of local competencies, and the conduct of well-grounded technical negotiations. The exemplary organization, distinguished by rigorous protocols at all stages—from data collection to preservation—constitutes a concrete basis for restructuring our national geological databases. It inspires the adaptation of key principles to the African context», - shared Goita Boniface from Mali.
Even during the interview stage for participation in the program, many applicants noted that they were particularly looking forward to acquiring new competencies in the field of digital technologies. For this reason, the visit to the Zyfra Group of Companies was received with special enthusiasm.
«Our visit to the office of Russia’s leading developer of industrial software for production digitalization was both informative and inspiring. We gained a clear understanding of how digital technologies are transforming industrial operations in the mining and processing sectors. We were introduced to the practical application of digital platforms in areas such as production optimization, real-time monitoring, predictive equipment maintenance, and data-driven decision-making. The company’s approach clearly demonstrated that the integration of digital solutions can significantly enhance production efficiency, improve safety, reduce downtime, and support sustainable resource management. This knowledge is extremely important for us, as it broadens our understanding of how modern industries are evolving and highlights the key role of digital transformation in increasing productivity and transparency. The insights gained will serve as a valuable reference point for us in shaping approaches to industrial governance, policy development, and the implementation of future reforms in our countries», - said Bangura Kadiatu from Sierra Leone.
At the Institute for African Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the delegates were welcomed by the Director of the Institute, Irina Abramova. During discussions with her and leading research fellows, followed by an introduction to the institution’s rich exhibition, tears welled up in the eyes of many students. From the photographs, ministers of foreign affairs and ambassadors of their countries looked back at them, captured during visits to the Institute. The guests were deeply impressed by the existence of a major research center that has been engaged in the study of issues related to their continent for more than 60 years.
The final event of the internship was a visit to the press center of MIA Rossiya Segodnya and a lecture by Alexander Yakovenko, Deputy Director General of the agency and Head of the Committee on Global Issues and International Security of the Scientific and Expert Council of the Security Council of the Russian Federation. Over the course of his diplomatic career, he has overseen a wide range of issues in multilateral diplomacy, including Russia’s participation in the United Nations, UNESCO, and other international organizations, international economic and humanitarian cooperation, human rights protection, environmental cooperation, climate change, as well as cultural and sports affairs. He has visited Africa many times on official missions, and his assessment of the global balance proved valuable for the program participants.
In January 2026, the African participants will undertake their next internship—this time in Almetyevsk, at the company Tatneft.
