The Ministry of Mines and Steel Development is to partner with Chinese investors from the East China Metallurgical Institute of Geology and Exploration to explore Lead, Zinc, Tin and Columbite in Nigeria.
The institute claims an established track record spanning decades in the exploration industry and an expertise in rock and mineral testing, risk assessment of geological disasters, solid mineral exploration hydrogeology, engineering geology, environmental geology investigation, geology drilling, geophysical and geochemical exploration, surveying and mapping, among others.
The Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Abubakar Bawa Bwari, who received a delegation from the Institute led by the Director, Mr Liu Lingsheng in his office, expressed federal government’s determination to partner with genuine investors in the mining sector.
He noted that a lot of proposals have been received from foreign companies interested in collaborating with the ministry on exploration and beneficiation but the ministry will only partner with people with proven competency, requisite modern equipment, record of achievements and ability to provide jobs and capacity building to Nigerians in the mining sector.
Bwari in a statement signed by deputy director of press, Rhoda Iliya, said he was impressed by the presentation made by the delegation, adding that the terms of the Institute were favourable and reasonable to all concerned. He directed that a technical committee be established by the ministry to determine areas of interests and benefits to the two parties.
A member of the delegation, Mr Paul Ogbe Kaizer, spoke of the Institutes amazing work in lead and zinc, copper and iron deposits and manganese, which has garnered the institute over forty awards in several regions in China.
He added that the company has established presence in Nigeria having worked in Kogi, Kebbi, and Nasarawa states mining coal, lead, zinc and manganese.
