On June 13, 2022, an Agreement on scientific and research cooperation in the field of Earth sciences was signed in Pointe Noire between the Polish Geological Institute - NRI and the Center for Geological and Mining Research (Centre de Recherches Géologiques et Minières - CRGM) and the General Directorate of Mining (Direction Générale des Mines) of the Ministry of Mineral Industries and Geology of the Republic of Congo (Ministere des Industries Minieres et de la Geologie - MIMG).

The document was signed a few days earlier by PGI-NRI director Dr. Eng. Matthew Damrat. On the Congolese side, the agreement was signed by Prof. Hilaire Elenga - Director of CRGM and Urbain Fiacre Opo - Director General of MIMG.

Signing of a cooperation agreement with the Republic of Congo. From left (standing) Ghynel Kounkou (Director of Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining of MIMG, Dr. Stanislaw Wołkowicz, Professor of the Institute from PGI-NRI, Prof. Hilaire Elenga (Director of CRGM), Urbain Fiacre Opo (Director General of MIMG); behind the table in the right corner Pierre Oba, Minister of State, Minister of Mining Industry and Geology of the Republic of Congo

The Agreement is well in line with the directions of cooperation set forth in the "Declaration on Cooperation in the Mining and Mining Machinery Sector," signed on December 7, 2017 by the Minister of Energy of the Republic of Poland and the Minister of Mining and Geology of the Republic of Congo. The purpose of the Agreement is the cooperation of experts from Poland and the Republic of Congo in the field of geology and mining, with a particular focus on the possibility of Congolese geologists obtaining their degrees (PhD) in Poland.

From left (standing) Ghynel Kounkou (Director of Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining of MIMG, Dr. Stanislaw Wołkowicz, Professor of the Institute (PGI-NRI), Prof. Hilaire Elenga (Director of CRGM), Urbain Fiacre Opo (Director General of MIMG)

PGI-NRI is a unique entity in this regard, because in fulfilling its duties as a state geological survey it is at the same time a scientific institute with the right to confer doctoral degrees. Since no other European geological survey has such rights, PGI-NRI is an attractive cooperation partner for African geological surveys, which suffer from a severe shortage of highly educated specialists. The opportunity to earn degrees at the Institute is also well received by the European geological surveys involved in the PanAfGeo project. This expands opportunities for cooperation and affects the sustainability of the project's impact.

The signed Agreement is bilateral and is expected to bring various benefits to Poland and to the Republic of Congo. The agreement concerns scientific and research cooperation, but geology is largely an applied science, and the "mining" component, exhibited especially by the Congolese side, means that the issue of mineral resources may be of key importance in this cooperation.

From left (standing) Ghynel Kounkou (Director of Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining of MIMG, Dr. Stanislaw Wołkowicz, Professor of the Institute (PGI-NRI), Prof. Hilaire Elenga (Director of CRGM), Urbain Fiacre Opo (Director General of MIMG); seated behind the presidential table are (from left): Alexandre Paka, Prefect of the Department of Pointe Noire, Pierre Oba, Minister of State, Minister of Mining Industry and Geology of the Republic of Congo, Henri Ossebi, Ambassador of the Republic of Congo accredited to UNESCO

The Republic of Congo's resource potential is large and largely complementary to the Polish economy. The Republic of Congo is the fourth oil producer on the African continent, and the deposits of this mineral have been developed by Western corporations for many years. The country's government is aiming to diversify its mining industry, hence it is showing great interest in cooperation with Poland, as a country with great geological and mining potential. The Republic of Congo has many valuable raw materials to offer. First and foremost are deposits of potassium salts and phosphorites, the importance of which is appreciated especially now, when the war in Ukraine is ongoing and the supply of raw materials from the eastern direction is seen as supporting the aggressor.

The Republic of Congo is also home to a number of rare metals necessary for the implementation of modern technologies. The Congolese side is also interested in cooperation in the protection of geological heritage.

Given its political and economic stability, geographic location, access to the Atlantic and the presence of a major port (Pointe Noire), the Republic of Congo seems to be a very good partner for developing a model of cooperation between Poland and African countries.

The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding was part of the opening ceremony of a training course for African geological survey personnel, which was organized as part of the work of the WP-D New Frontiers in Geology: Geoheritage and Geothermal Energy working group of the PanAfGeo Project (Pan-African Support to Geological Sciences and Technology - Africa - EU Partnership - Phase II).

The training was organized by the head of the working group, Dr. Stanisław Wołkowicz, Professor of the Institute. The training was officially opened by Pierre Oba, Minister of State, Minister of Mining Industry and Geology of the Republic of Congo. The event was attended, among others, by Henri Ossebi - Ambassador of the Republic of Congo accredited to UNESCO, Jean-Francois Kando - maire of Pointe Noire, and the prefects of the departments of Pointe Noire - Alexandre Paka and Kouilou - Paul Dibouilou. Information about the ceremony was the first news broadcast on Congolese state television, during which attention was drawn to the fact that the Agreement of Cooperation had been signed.

Text: Stanisław Wołkowicz
Photos: Wojciech Wołkowicz
Translated by: Tomasz Trzpil