Nigeria has reached a partnership with France to boost the solid minerals sector in the country.
The two countries, following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) agreed to develop joint projects aimed at promoting and diversifying the critical minerals value chain within the solid minerals sector of both countries.
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, who disclosed this on Sunday, signed the MoU on behalf of Nigeria, while the Inter-Ministerial delegate for Critical Ores and Metals of the Republic of France, Mr. Benjamin Gallezot, signed on behalf of France.
Mr. Alake noted that the MoU establishes the nation’s commitment to collaborate on research, training, and student exchanges between Franco-Nigerian institutions to facilitate knowledge and skills transfer.
“A significant aspect of this MoU is our dedication to promoting sustainable mining activities. We will implement projects and programs designed to minimize the environmental impact of mining, addressing issues related to carbon emissions, water consumption, and climate change.
“Additionally, the agreement includes plans for establishing joint extraction and processing projects, supported by co-financing from both public and private sectors. This initiative aims to diversify and secure the supply of critical minerals while decarbonizing energy projects that are vital to the value chain,” he stated.
The minister added: “Together, we have committed to adopting international best practices in the execution of these projects, ensuring that we improve the conditions for local communities affected by mining, with a strong emphasis on transparency.”
