Sule applauds takeoff of Chinese $200m lithium factory in Nasarawa

Governor Abdullahi Sule said he was happy about the massive takeoff of the Chinese $200 million lithium factory in the state.

Sule appealed to the citizens of the state, especially the youths, to study necessary technical courses that would afford them the opportunity to work in the sprouting Chinese mining companies in the state.

Governor Sule made the call shortly after inspecting the progress of work at the construction site of the Jiuling Lithium Mining Company in Endo, Nasarawa Local Government Area (LGA), on Tuesday.

The inspection visit was prompted by the Governor’s recent trip to China, where he visited the headquarters of Jiuling in Yichun, China, and also met the chairman of the company, who promised to establish a similar industry in Nasarawa State.

He said, however, that the only way the citizens of the state could benefit maximally from Chinese mining companies coming into the state is for them to have the requisite qualifications.

Speaking with journalists shortly after a tour of the facility, Governor Sule said the people of the state stand to benefit more if they study courses that are relevant for them to gain employment with Jiuling Lithium Mining Company.

“While I was in China, I sought to find out how this industry is going to benefit both Nasarawa State, the people of Nasarawa Local Government, and indeed, the people of Udege Development Area. I asked them the questions, and they started with employment.

“They said they would employ all our citizens, especially qualified technical people, and they promised to pay them a minimum of N500,000. That is what I also confirmed right now.

“We have seen a few of the engineers. The call that I would like to make on our people is that most of the technical people that we have seen are from other states, some from Nasarawa, Kogi, Benue, and Plateau.

“While I am very happy and excited that there are people from Nasarawa State, I would like our people to use the opportunity of studying careers that would give them the opportunity to work in places like this.”

He stated that over 800 workers at the site are from the host communities.

“If they have sufficiently qualified technicians and engineers from Nasarawa State, they would employ them first. But if they don’t, they would not abandon their factory. They would go elsewhere,” he said.

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Also commenting on the environment, the Governor expressed satisfaction with the measures taken by the company to protect the environment.

“As an engineer, I am satisfied. It is very technical to begin to explain this to a layman. Somebody would say it is dusty and not safe for the environment.

“The way you protect the environment is to ensure you do not cause pollution in the area. If you look at the pit being excavated, it is a pit that is in layers, meaning that the entire environment is protected. From the engineering point of view, they have done that. They have done their Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and are abiding by that,” he said.

Earlier, while meeting with a joint team from Jiuling, Sinoma, and Gangfeng, Governor Sule assured that his administration would support Jiuling in the areas of infrastructure like roads, water supply, and electricity.

He disclosed plans to step down power from the national grid to cut down on the cost of production for the company.

The governor also assured that, in collaboration with the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, as well as the Minister of Defence, appropriate steps are being taken to ensure that Jiuling Lithium Mining Company operates smoothly in Nasarawa State.

He was particularly happy because Jiuling had brought in Sinoma as the contractor handling the construction of the mining site.

“With Sinoma, you have brought in a highly respected company that is known worldwide. I know Sinoma very well and the quality of work that they do. I am looking forward to the day I will come this year to commission this project. I am also happy with the way Sinoma is working at the mining site.

“I am going to watch carefully because the mining site that they have at the cement plants built for the Dangote Group in Ogbajana and Ibeshi, they have a good conveying system that helps them protect the environment.

“They do not use trucks to move around. They use a belt conveyor, and I am sure they will use the system here. So that it would protect the environment here in Udege. It would protect the Nigerian workers. It would also protect the Chinese workers,” he added.

Commenting on the request by the company for the state government to provide adequate security at the mining site, the governor said he purposely invited the Commissioner of Police, as well as all other heads of security agencies operating in the state, to put their heads together.

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“I heard you when you mentioned the security in the area. That is the reason why I came with the heads of security because the chief of security officials in Nasarawa State is the Commissioner of Police, who is sitting right here with me.

“As you are talking to me, he is also listening to you. About five years ago, you would not be able to come here. The insecurity here was such that nobody could venture here. But the Federal Government worked with us.

“We provided the military super camp nearby. We constructed the road from Mararaba. After constructing the road, most of these criminals ran away. Apart from security,” he said.

On his part, Xiong Jin, Managing Director of Jiuling Lithium Mining Company, reiterated the commitment of his company to build one of the largest lithium processing factories in Endo, Nasarawa State, estimated to cost $200 million.

While giving specific technical details about the size of the factory, he confirmed that Jiuling would pay graduates employed to work at the mining site a minimum of N500,000.

Jin, however, called on the state government for support in the areas of security and infrastructure.