Main assessments by commentators and reviewers of the report by PIR Center consultant Ms. Alexandra Zubenko: “Uranium Competition in the Sahel Region and Russia’s Interests. Current Situation. Assessment of Prospects. Recommendations”

The report is extensive and interesting. I read it from cover to cover. Undoubtedly, the report is instrumental as a source of factual material, above all, of its numerical dataset. It utilizes rich infographics, diagrams, and tables. Fortunately, this report has been released today. It seems to me that it will become an indispensable reference tool for State Atomic Energy Corporation «Rosatom» and for other Russian companies that work, or plan to work, on the African continent.

We are presented with a highly coherent and comprehensive monograph – indeed, a monograph in the full sense of the word, in which one finds political analyses of each country, an overall economic assessment, and reviews of their relations with Russia. Should PIR Center decide to publish Ms. Alexandra Zubenko’s report precisely as an academic monograph, it would be the correct decision.

The report possesses a number of strong merits. First, the topic itself is of clear relevance: the uranium sector in the Sahel countries lies at the center of global politics and energy security, making its study both timely and in demand. Second, the use of satellite-image analysis to determine the status of individual projects adds novelty and provides a solid empirical foundation. The quantitative examination of the mining sector’s contribution to national revenues is also a notable strength. Another important advantage is the systematic treatment of the legal frameworks governing the mining industries of the Sahel states. Finally, the attention given to political-legal constraints and the consequences of coups enhances the applied value of the text.

Ms. Alexandra Zubenko’s report is extremely relevant ‘here and now’ and represents a significant contribution to examining the prospects for regional cooperation between Russia and the Sahel states in the field of uranium extraction and processing. The author provides a thorough analysis of the current state of uranium mining and production in the region, considers the factors that hinder deeper development of this sector, and identifies the geopolitical threats and challenges faced by the region.