President Tinubu inaugurates Lithium factory in Nasarawa

A $250 million lithium facility in Nasarawa State was officially inaugurated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday as part of the federal government's efforts to address Nigerians' needs for electricity and batteries.

President Tinubu stated that the project was in keeping with his administration's commitment to supplying Nigerians with adequate electricity during his remarks at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Ganfeng Lithium Industry Limited Factory in the Endo town of Udege in the state's Nasarawa Local Government Area.

In light of this, the president, who was represented by Minister of Solid Minerals Development Dele Alake, praised the corporation for starting the project and gave it the assurance that it would always have the backing of the federal government.

According to the president, “I must say congratulations to this company for this uncommon feat. Under this administration, we shall do everything possible to discourage the carting away of our solid minerals without value addition.

“I want to emphasise the fact that the era of exporting raw solid minerals from Nigeria is over. To further demonstrate our seriousness in stopping the illegal export of our solid minerals, we are collaborating with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to detect both major and minor raw materials from the ports.

“Your decision to set up a factory to make lithium batteries is a product of great wisdom. We will give you all the support that you need to turn this idea into reality because you have dared to enter into a terrain that others have been too scared to venture into, and I am convinced that my presence here will give you the boost to deliver this project according to specifications.”

The mammoth facility, when finished, will have the capacity to process 18,000 metric tonnes of lithium per day and 4.5 million metric tonnes yearly, according to Pan Quen, president of Ganfeng Lithium Industry Limited.

Quen stated that the project would take 24 months to complete and that, once completed, the factory would have the ability to employ 2,500 Nigerians directly.

“I strongly believe that with the construction of the lithium factory in Nasarawa State, more of Chinese stakeholders will invest in Nigeria, which would help to boost the economy of the country,” he said.

Source