In a significant development for the mining and processing industry, the Minister for Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Oladele Alake, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to promoting value addition in mineral extraction. He also issued a call to potential investors to abandon the outdated practice of exporting raw materials.
Speaking at the foundation stone laying ceremony of a Lithium battery processing factory, established by Ganfeng Lithium Industry Limited, Minister Alake emphasized the government’s policy shift toward value addition in the mining sector. The event took place in Lado Village, Udede Area, Nasarawa State, and marked a crucial step in advancing the mining and processing of minerals within the region.
Underlining the importance of value addition, the Minister encouraged all stakeholders and potential investors to embrace this policy, which is aimed at bolstering the economy and generating foreign exchange.
“This marks a significant shift in the government’s approach to mineral mining,” the Minister declared. “I am making it clear that we are moving away from the practice of merely exporting raw materials. Instead, we are prioritizing value addition to our extractive industry, which aligns with the core policy of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to create wealth and provide employment opportunities for our youth.”
Dr. Alake went on to express his commitment to the successful realization of this venture. “I chose to honor the invitation to participate in the foundation stone laying ceremony of the factory because my presence will provide moral support to deliver this project as fast as possible,” he noted.
The Minister commended the governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Sule, for his instrumental role in facilitating the groundbreaking ceremony. Governor Sule, in turn, expressed his gratitude to the Federal Government for enabling the establishment of a 13,000-capacity Lithium battery energy plant in Nasarawa. He stated, “I am fulfilled to see the realization of my dream.”
Upon full operationalization, the Lithium battery processing factory is expected to provide employment opportunities for 2,500 local residents and promote capacity building within the region. This move represents a significant shift towards fostering economic growth through value addition in the mineral sector, with potential long-term benefits for Nasarawa State and the Nigerian economy as a whole.
