The Nasarawa State government and the federal government want to partner on a lithium processing policy that would make sure that any lithium mined in the State is processed there rather than being exported unprocessed.
When the Executive Governor of Nasarawa State, Engr. Abdullahi A. Sule paid a courtesy visit to the agency, and the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure, Dr. Bashir Gwandu, revealed this.
The processing policy, according to Gwandu, is consistent with NASENI’s efforts to promote the processing of strategic solid minerals, particularly to guarantee that batteries are made locally for both electric vehicles and other energy storage applications.
One of the states with the potential for having the largest lithium reserves in Nigeria is Nasarawa.
Gwandu recalled that NASENI had recently made an effort to entice financiers and Nigerian lithium off-takers from all over the world to come and collaborate with it to locally process different combinations of lithium into batteries.
Lithium processing will be included in this, from mineral extraction and crushing through finished products that can be used locally and sold to other nations.
In response to the request, a few Chinese businesses have already begun to visit NASENI. On this project, NASENI will collaborate with other government organizations like the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency, the Rural Electricity Agency, and other financial institutions, the official said.
Gwandu expressed his joy that the governor of Nasarawa State has chosen to work with NASENI in this area.
He claimed that several businesses have expressed interest in setting up operations in Nasarawa state to process lithium in volumes ranging from 1,000 to 3,000 tonnes daily. As of now, it is anticipated that only Nasarawa will process daily close to 6,000 tonnes.
On his part, Governor Sule stated that the companies have already expressed interest in processing the 6,000 tonnes per day in Nasarawa state, adding that other states like Kebbi, Kwara, etc., may also attract these types of businesses and investments. According to Governor Sule, proper coordination is required, and all hands must be on deck to ensure that Nigeria takes its place by being the largest lithium producer globally.
In order to conduct intentional exploration, extraction, and processing, he added, “Nasarawa state has a large quantum of lithium and thus the need to have a better working synergy with NASENI.”
Given its proximity to the raw materials and the NASENI Solid Minerals Institute, which is also located in Nasarawa town in the same state, Engr. Sule advised NASENI to use its Solar in Gora as a lithium processing and battery production factory.
He asked for additional cooperation with the State as it planned a second economic summit to be known as the “Lithium Rush Summit” while vowing to provide the Agency with the necessary support.
