Tinubu Applauds Historic Milestone,Says My Government is Set To Make Nigeria Manufacturing Hub Of Africa.
.….As Chinese Firms Unveil Nigeria’s Largest Lithium Processing Plant in Nasarawa State
Emmanuel lkpeama
President Bola Tinubu has lauded the unveiling of Nigeria’s largest lithium ore processing plant in Lafia, Nasarawa State,hailing it as a clear indication of the country’s attractiveness for foreign investment.
President Tinubu made the remarks on Friday in Abuja during a meeting with Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State, who was accompanied by Mr. Hi Yongwei, Chairman of Avatar New Energy Materials Company Limited, and Mr. Zhenhua Pei, Chairman, Canmax Technologies, while emphasizing the pivotal role of foreign investments in Nigeria’s development trajectory.
Avatar, a prominent Chinese firm, spearheaded the construction of the lithium processing plant, boasting a daily production capacity of 4,000 metric tonnes. Additionally, Canmax Technologies, renowned for its contributions to global battery material production, announced a substantial investment of $200 million for another lithium processing facility in Nasarawa State, underscoring their confidence in Nigeria’s investment climate.
President Tinubu underscored the importance of environmental stewardship and community engagement in the operations of these firms, urging them to uphold corporate social responsibility standards. He envisioned Nigeria’s potential as a hub for solar technology production, leveraging the country’s abundant resources and skilled workforce.
The president said’There are other aspects of lithium that you are exploring in the country, especially in battery production. Nigeria is a huge market for solar panels. Africa is a major consumer of solar technologies. I do not see why these panels and batteries cannot be produced here. The labour is cheaper.
Our youths are vibrant and skilled. Our people are brilliant and adapt to new technology. The economy is increasingly more vibrant, and Nigeria is dependable. We have the consumption capacity and a surplus of steady-handed citizens with gifted minds and an innate drive to work and produce.”
”You must not leave the community in ruins as you explore for our high-grade minerals. You must be concerned with cooperation and always care for the community.
”We are caring partners. We want your investments to succeed so that you can expand further. Whenever you call on us, we will help you. You can, in mutually-beneficial collaboration with us, dominate the solar panel market as part of a revolution in Africa and the West African sub-region.
”You can always promote the interest of China and Nigeria as the best place in Africa to do business. We are preparing to produce in this country the solar technologies that the entire continent will use,”he stated.
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President Tinubu also applauded Governor Sule and the Minister of Solid Minerals, Mr. Dele Alake, for their dedication to ensuring environmental protection and value addition by mining firms operating in the country.
Governor Sule of Nasarawa state expressed gratitude for the unwavering support of President Tinubu towards solid mineral development, while highlighting the economic prospects of lithium mining in Nasarawa State.
”The company that we just commissioned today in Nasarawa is a 500-million-dollar turnover company. They are happy, and they have seen enough potential to mine lithium in the region for the next 15 to 20 years,’’ the Governor said.
In the same vein, the Minister of Solid Minerals, Mr. Dele Alake, echoed the government’s commitment to remediate abandoned mines and promote local value addition in the mining sector.
”We are in the process of putting in place remedial measures, converting some of them into constructive uses, like farming and irrigation.
”To ensure that companies operating in this sector no longer abandon the mines after they have finished operations, it is part of our requirements that for licencing fresh applicants, there must be concrete remediation plans that are viable and working before any application is approved for mining,” he said.
In their separate remarks,the Chinese executives, Mr. Hi Yongwei of Avatar New Energy Materials Company Limited and Mr. Zhenhua Pei of Canmax Technologies, reiterated their commitment to adhering to mining regulations and fostering mutually beneficial partnerships with host communities, stating that their investments signal a promising era of growth and innovation in Nigeria’s mining industry which will be propelled by collaboration between local and international stakeholders.
