SA, Russia to consolidate bilateral relations

Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma and the Russian Federation Minister of Natural Resources and Ecology, Yuri Trutnev will co-chair the ITEC in Durban.

According to the Department of Foreign Affairs the meeting will also measure progress and look at ways to ease blockages in the implementation of the agreed programmes between the two countries.

Seventh ITEC Session

In May this year the seventh ITEC Session was held in Moscow which mainly focused on among other things, agriculture, education, health, minerals and energy, science and technology, transport, trade and industry, justice, and water and forestry.

The ITEC has witnessed the expansion of co-operation in mining with the Russian Federation expressing an interest to implement technology exchange programmes and develop a coordinated strategy for deep mining of raw diamonds, precious metals and beneficiation technologies.

“As the most important mechanism underpinning bilateral relations for mutual political, trade and economic interests, ITEC has contributed to the bilateral relations reaching the level of a strategic partnership,” the department said.

Mining projects

The department said that South Africa has requested the Russian Federation to identify exploration in mining projects in coal, uranium and Platinum Group Metals (PGMs) for implementation in the Russian Federation by South African-Russian joint venture enterprises.

“In this regard, there were discussions between the South African State Diamond Company and the Russian Federation's diamond company, Alrosa to explore ways and means to co-operate in diamond explorations and beneficiation in both countries,” the department said.

The department added that a commitment has been made to resolve the outstanding Manganese Kalahari Project shareholder issues.

Energy co-operations

With regard to energy, an urgent need to fast track co-operation between the South African Oil and Gas Company PetroSA and Rosneft and Gazprom, Russian Oil and Gas Multinationals has also been identified.

Both countries expressed an interest to use the ECOMAG system designed for broad range of hydrologic and nature protection applied tasks of diagnosis and forecasting to ensure information provision of central and regional bodies on environmentally safe management of water resources of river basins.

Environmental issues

Meanwhile on forestry, the two countries agreed on the development of an information system of space monitoring of landscapes, forest fires and aviation protection of landscapes from forest fires.

The department said these measures will contribute effectively to environmentally friendly usage of resources and the prevention of global warming and climate change.

Imports and interests

South Africa's major imports from Russia consist of the nickel group of minerals, accounting for over 65% of imports.

SA multinationals Anglo American, Standard Bank, De Beers, JCI, Barloworld, Capespan and Bateman have substantial interests in Russia.

Standard Bank also has a growing presence in Russia along with SAPPI, Protea Hotels and Sun International.

South Africa and Russia also co-operate in multilateral fora since South Africa is a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.

Article published courtesy of BuaNews