St. petersburg: Sierra Leone pushed its mining ambitions onto the global stage at SPIEF 2026, with Mines and Mineral Resources Minister Julius D. Mattai outlining the government's drive for responsible mineral governance, value addition, and stronger international partnerships. According to Sierra Leone News Agency, Minister Mattai spoke as a panelist at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in Russia during a high-level discussion on rare earth elements and critical minerals. Held under the theme, 'Rare and Strategic: Sovereignty and International Cooperation in the Field of Rare Earth Elements and Critical Minerals,' the session brought together international leaders to examine the growing role of critical minerals in energy transition, technological progress, and industrial growth. During the discussion, the minister said Sierra Leone remains committed to managing its mineral wealth in ways that deliver greater benefits to its people. He pointed to local content development, value addition, sk ills transfer, and industrialisation as key pillars of that strategy. Mattai also reaffirmed Sierra Leone's openness to international cooperation built on mutual respect, local ownership, joint ventures, and technology transfer. He said the country is seeking partnerships that expand in-country value addition and create shared benefits, not arrangements that encourage dependence. He stressed that critical minerals are becoming increasingly central to global energy systems and modern technology, and said rising demand makes stronger international cooperation essential. According to him, future supply chains must be resilient, transparent, and sustainable, while fully respecting the sovereignty of producer nations over their natural resources. The forum discussions also explored how countries can balance national interests with international cooperation, strengthen supply chain security, promote responsible sourcing standards, and drive innovation in mineral extraction and processing. Mattai used the platform to call for greater investment in Africa's mining infrastructure, geological research, human capital development, and downstream processing capacity. SPIEF 2026 was held from June 3 to 6 in St. Petersburg, Russia, and remains one of the world's leading platforms for economic dialogue and international cooperation. The Sierra Leone delegation was led by Minister Mattai and included the Leader of Government Business in Parliament, Sierra Leone's Ambassador to the Russian Federation, the Director General of the National Minerals Agency, the Director of Policy and Research, the Director of Geological Surveys, and other senior officials from the Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources and the National Minerals Agency.