FG pledges support for Hasetins Commodities’ $400 million rare earth processing plant
*Photo R-L: Dr Dele Alake and Prince Jidayi Ijudigal* Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake has pledged Federal Government's support for a Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) initiative to establish Africa’s largest rare earth and critical minerals processing plant, driven by a $400 million investment from Hasetins Commodities Ltd in Nasarawa State. Dr Alake gave the commitment during...
Tinubu calls for end to West Africa’s ‘Pit-to-Port’ mineral export model
President Bola Tinubu has called on West African nations to break free from the long-standing dependency on exporting raw minerals, a pattern he labelled the “pit-to-port” model — and instead focus on building regional value chains, investing in local processing, and boosting manufacturing and innovation. Speaking at the inaugural West Africa Economic Summit (WAES) on Saturday at the Bola Ahmed...
Niger strips France’s Orano of rights to its uranium mine
Niger’s military government has announced plans to nationalize Somair uranium, a local venture operated by French state-owned nuclear fuels company Orano, amid an escalating dispute between the miner and the West African nation.The authorities cited alleged illegal actions by Orano as justification for their decision, adding that the most recent mining agreement between Niger and the French mining giant...
Segilola Resources builds palace, launches youth scheme to boost economic development in Osun communities
Segilola Resources Operating Limited, Nigeria’s pioneering large-scale gold mining company and a subsidiary of Thor Explorations Ltd, has inaugurated a newly constructed royal palace in Imogbara and officially launched a youth empowerment initiative across Imogbara and Iperindo communities in Osun State. The projects, which fall under the firm’s Community Development Agreement (CDA) obligations, underscore its commitment to sustainable development, cultural...
Mali announces Russia partnership to establish gold refinery
Mali’s government will partner with the Russian Yadran Group to establish a state-owned gold refinery aimed at increasing national revenues from bullion production, Reuters reported on Friday, citing the West African country’s economy and finance minister. According to Alousseni Sanou, the joint company SOROMA-SA will be majority-owned by the Malian state with a 62% stake, while Yadran will hold the...
Medscope, Saudi company expresses interest in Kano Solid Minerals sector
*Photo L-R: Shekh Tijjani Auwal, Kano State Commissioner Religious Affairs ; Shekh Saoud Alzafere, CEO of Medscope; Alhaji Hamza Safiyanu, Kano State Commissioner of Solid Mineral and Natural Resources and Dr. Elfatih Muhammed Ali; General Manager of Medscope* Medscope, a Saudi Arabian company with headquarters in Riyadh, has expressed interest in the Kano State solid minerals sector. The expression of...
Oyo Government vows to end illegal mining activities statewide
Oyo State Government has put measures in place to end illegal mining in every part of the state, the Director-General, Oyo State Solid Mineral Development Agency, Mr Abiodun Oni, had said. Oni said this when he led a team from the agency on inspection to the Ibadan Circular Road, where illegal excavation took place. According to a statement issued at...
New report shows $30b in new investments needed to meet Canada’s critical mineral demand
A newly released report estimates Canada will need at least $30 billion in new capital investments by 2040 if it wants to meet domestic demand for the critical minerals key to a green economy transition. But the Canadian Climate Institute's report says cutting back on environmental safeguards and Indigenous consultation to speed up those projects is likely to backfire. The report...
Nigerian Railways talks tough on illegal mining activities near rail tracks
* Rail tracks destroyed by suspected illegal mining activities at Jebba, Niger The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has pledged to take serious action against perpetrators of illegal mining activities causing damage to rail tracks. The Managing Director of the corporation, Mr Kayode Opeifa, gave the warning while speaking with newsmen on Wednesday in Jebba, on the sidelines of an inspection tour...
MAN president Dele Ayanleke bags Champion Newspapers’ Lifetime Achievement Award
President of the Miners Association of Nigeria (MAN), Chief Dele Ayanleke, was among the high calibre personalities honoured recently at the Champion Newspapers’ Annual Awards for the year 2024. The event, held at the Convention Center of Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island was witnessed by State Governors, Banks CEOs, oil and gas magnates, gurus of industry and others. Among the...
