By Abdulfatah Babatunde
Nasarawa State Government and the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) are partnering to formulate policy on mining and local processing of lithium minerals in the State.
The policy is in line with NASENI’s drive to encourage the processing of strategic solid minerals.
This is to enhance the local production of batteries for both electric vehicles and other energy storage applications.
Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State announced this when he visited NASENI’s headquarters in Abuja at the weekend.
TheNewsZenith reports that Nasarawa State is one of the states potentially endouwed with largest deposits of lithium in Nigeria.
Recently, NASENI encourage investors and Nigerian foreign lithium off-takers for partnership in processing various combinations of lithium into batteries locally.
This will include lithium processing from crushing and extraction to final products for both local use and export.
Sule said many companies have shown interest to process the 6,000 tonnes of lithium per day in Nasarawa.
He added that other states like Kebbi and Kwara might also attract such kind of companies and investments.
Read Related News:
NASENI invites Lithium batteries producers to Nigeria
Buhari inaugurates NASENI Technology Complex
“There is need for proper coordination, and for all hands to be on deck, to ensure that Nigeria takes its place as one of the largest lithium producers in the world,” the governor said.
According to him, something is happening in Nasarawa that is akin to Gold Rush, which can be termed “Lithium Rush”.
“This is because lithium price in the world market has jumped from $6,000 per metric tonnes to $78,000 per metric tonnes.
“Nasarawa State has a large quantum of Lithium and hence the need to have a better working synergy with NASENI towards purposeful exploration, extraction and processing.”
Sule called for more collaborations with the state as it plans a second economic summit tagged “Lithium Rush Summit”.
The governor promised to give the Agency necessary support to enhance exploitation of solid minerals in the state.
Responding, Chief Executive of NASENI, Dr Bashir Gwandu, said the agency has been partnering with other government agencies on exploration of lithium and other minerals.
Gwandu said he was pleased that “the Nasarawa State governor is coming to collaborate with NASENI in this regard”.
Also Read:
FG sets aside N3.25bn for 3 industrial parks
He listed other collaborating agencies to include Rural Electricity Agency (REA), Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA) and other investing institutions.
According to Gwandu, some companies from China have already started visiting NASENI as a response to the call.
“A number of companies have indicated interest in investing in Nasarawa state to process lithium in various quantities.
“This is ranging from 1,000-3,000 tonnes per day. So far, we are projecting a daily processing of almost 6,000 tonnes per day in Nasarawa alone.
Although NASENI does not plan to build an airport, Gwandu, however, said the agency “is working on establishing an Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul/Asset retirement obligations (MRO/ARO)”.
He said MRO/ARO as part of NASENI’s efforts to develop capacity for both maintenance and eventual aircrafts parts production to service aerospace industry.
This, is said, is likely to be located in Abuja in view of electricity supply.
On the planned economic-summit, Gwandu said NASENI would actively participate in any conference by the state with regard to lithium.
Do you have a flair for Citizenship Journalism? Share story(ies) of happenings in your area with The NewsZenith on WhatsApp: 08033668669 or thenewszenith@gmail.com
