Rosnedra – Russian companies are preparing to undertake comprehensive geological exploration in Mozambique as Moscow and Maputo seek to expand cooperation in geology, subsoil resources and the digital management of geological information.
Oleg Kazanov, co chair of the Russian side of the Russia Mozambique Intergovernmental Commission and head of Russia’s Federal Agency for Subsoil Use, Rosnedra, disclosed the plans during a meeting in Moscow on 1 October 2026.
“We have proposals from Russian companies that are ready to carry out a range of geological exploration work in Mozambique, as well as develop co-operation in the digitalisation of geological information,” an African Initiative correspondent reports him as saying.
Kazanov said the discussions form part of ongoing efforts to translate a memorandum on technical cooperation in geology and subsoil use into practical projects.
The second meeting of the working group responsible for implementing the memorandum was held on the sidelines of the intergovernmental commission on 29 September.
“We are now working on implementing a medium-term co-operation programme in this area,” he noted.
The proposed geological exploration activities could strengthen technical cooperation between the two countries as they seek to identify and develop opportunities linked to Mozambique’s mineral and subsoil resources.
The latest discussions followed the fourth meeting of the Russia Mozambique Intergovernmental Commission on economic and scientific and technical cooperation, where Kazanov and his Mozambican counterpart signed a final protocol outlining the outcome of the meeting.
The cooperation also forms part of wider efforts by Russia and Mozambique to expand their economic relationship beyond existing areas of engagement.
During talks with Mozambican Foreign Minister Maria Manuela dos Santos Lucas in Maputo in July, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the two sides had agreed to prepare proposals for specific joint projects ahead of the autumn session of the intergovernmental commission.
Lavrov said Moscow and Maputo were interested in developing and modernising their trade, economic and investment ties, creating a broader framework for cooperation between Russia and the southern African country.
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