India withdraws from Rosatom-backed lithium project in Mali amid security concerns
India exits lithium project in Mali backed by Rosatom (illustrative photo) (Photo: Wikimedia Foudation)
Security risks are forcing India to exit a lithium
exploration project in Mali backed by Russia’s state nuclear corporation,
Rosatom, as New Delhi seeks to protect its investments in the politically
unstable West African country, Reuters
reported on Feb. 12.
“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.
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