India withdraws from Rosatom-backed lithium project in Mali amid security concerns

“Western countries, from the United Kingdom and France to the United States, have urged their citizens to leave the landlocked country as security fears grow in the fight against Al-Qaeda-linked militants targeting economic assets and foreign investments,” the publication said. “Last year, Rosatom approached India’s government-backed companies Khanij Bidesh India Ltd (KABIL) and NLC India Ltd with a proposal to explore lithium in Mali, a country emerging as a producer of the metal that is critical for manufacturing batteries for electric vehicles.”

“The project has been suspended because we cannot spend funds on something that could lead to the loss of our investments,” one source said.

Russia has been developing ties with a number of African countries, including through military cooperation, and has strengthened relations with Mali and Burkina Faso.

India, the world’s fastest-growing major economy, is seeking to secure stable lithium supplies amid expectations of rising demand for the metal, which is key to cutting carbon emissions in the world’s third-largest emitting country.

Recently, India has stepped up efforts to sign agreements granting access to critical minerals in resource-rich countries such as Argentina, Australia and Chile.

In 2024, KABIL signed an exploration and development agreement with a state-owned company in Argentina to explore and mine five lithium blocks, but it has not signed any similar agreements since.

As previously reported, construction of a new gold processing plant backed by Russia began in Mali in June 2025.

Mercenaries from Russia’s Wagner Group private military company have established a network of illegal prisons in Mali, where civilians were detained and tortured.