Mining: FG establishes Kaolin Processing Plants to end exportation of raw minerals
…Governor assures preparedness to cooperate with FG
By Gloria Akudoro, Abuja
The Federal Government is establishing Kaolin Processing Plants in Bagurja/ Sabuwa Gwaram, Kaleri Government Area of Bauchi State as more minerals is found in parts of the state and to end exportation of raw minerals for processing.
Minister of Mine and Steel Development, Arc Olamilakan Adegbite revealed this when he paid a courtesy visit to Governor Bala Muhammed after inspecting the Kaolin processing plant site in the state over the weekend.
He said the establishment of the clusters in the six geopolitical zones is part of Federal Government’s efforts to stimulate the economy after the adverse effects of COVID-19 pandemic.
“We are in that process that we feel that any mineral that is mined in Nigeria should be processed locally, so that there will be some benefitiation. We are losing a lot of money, we are losing wealth as well as our jobs by exporting raw ore.
“There is a downstream policy in place that would prevent exportation of raw ores.
“As a demonstration of that, we chose to use the money that we received to establish processing centers in the six geopolitical zones of the country as a result of which the one for Northeast Zone has been established in Bauchi,” he emphasised.
Adegbite also stressed that the construction of Kaolin Processing Plants in Bauchi State will put an end to the exportation of raw Kaolin as well importation of industrial grade Kaolin for the pharmacitical companies in the country.
“Kaolin is in abundance here, let’s process Kaolin to industrial grade for pharmaceutical companies here in Bauchi and what we are doing is like a pilot programme, there is a lot of Kaolin here and there is room for other investors, maybe in a different local government to also process Kaolin.
“Kaolin is used in pharmaceutical industry, cosmetics industry, in paint industry as well as in paper industry and emphasized the need to mine it, create wealth, jobs and generate revenue for government.
The Minister during the inspecting of the Kaolin Processing Cluster in Alkaleri, expressed satisfaction over the level of work done, said Kaoline produced in area would be processed and used locally while the excess could also be exported.
“What the government has done in the six (6) geopolitical zones is to develop the mineral that is in abundance in different zones of the federation and demonstrate possibilities to would-be investors that they can replicate the processing plant in another belt, taking advantage of what is been produced there.
“We have Kaoline here and that is why we have decided to process here so that you don’t have to be transporting them a long way, so the plant is in the middle of a kaoline belt where a lot of people, artisanal miners who mine kaoline can just bring it here for processing in their hybrid way.
“Nigeria currently has over 44 minerals and has only established six (6) processing zones which simply means there is room for investors to come in,” he stated.
He encouraged investors to invest not only in mining but also in processing as he emphasized that whatever is mined in Nigeria must be processed in the country.
In his word, the Bauchi State Governor, Sen. Bala Mohammed commended the FG decision to establish a Kaolin Processing Plant in his state. He said the establishment will increase its revenue profile by taking advantage of the abundant Kaolin mineral in the vicinity.
According to him, “Bauchi State is rich in mineral resources and welcomed the establishment of Kaolin processing plant in the State as Kaolin is found in different parts of the state especially in Alkaleri Local Government.”
The Governor said the State recognises that mining is in the exclusive list and assured the Minister of his State’s preparedness to cooperate with the Federal Government as a sub national entity, even as he emphasised the need for the State to look inwards and take advantage of its abundant mineral resources to meet its financial obligations.
“We will fulfill our responsibility in respect of the provisions of the Constitution, we will ensure that community relations, community engagement is good so that investors will come in and of course as a sub-national, nobody stops us from owning and participating in mining activities,” he assured.
Sen. Mohammed thanked the Minister for taking time out of his busy schedule to visit the clusters in the six geopolitical zones to monitor, evaluate and provide on-the-spot assessment of job already completed.
“If we have been working like this as federal officers, then things would not have been the way it is, public officers would have been in positions to know precisely what is happening outside the comfort zones of their offices and here you are, in spite of the insecurity, the perception and negative narratives, you have shown yourself as a patriot,” the Governor noted.
