Producer of tin and smelter, Yunnan Tin Company Limited of China, has indicated interest in the Nigerian market. Consequently, a 10-man Chinese delegation, led by the Chairman and General Manager, Mr. Liu Luke, including the Chief Financial Officer, Mrs Yue Min and the Foreign Trade and Purchase Manager, Mrs. Li Niping, spent a week in Plateau State consulting and researching the market.

The company yesterday visited the King of Barkin Ladi, Da Edward Gyang Bot, and the Sector 4 Commander of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), Lt.-Col. Isaac Indiorhwer, who assured the visitors that the area was safe and conducive for foreign investments.

The team also met with the Mine Inspector of the North West Zone, Muhammadu Saidu, who also encouraged them to invest in the tin mining sector in Barkin Ladi.

The highlight of the visit was a tour of Laurium Mining Company Limited in Sho and processing facilities. Luke, in his remarks, promised that his company would honour and bring development to the people of Barkin Ladi if it eventually commences operations in the state.

Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Laurium Mining Company in Jos received the Chinese delegation who were assessing the infrastructure on ground and finalising decision to invest or not.

He told them that there were 18 dry processing plants in the area of coverage, and also acknowledged that the 10 officers came from the largest tin mining firm in the world. Kusamotu said everywhere the Chinese toured was manned by soldiers, reassuring them of tight security in place for investors.

Responding, his Chinese counterpart, who expressed satisfaction, explained that they were at the mining site to see things for themselves.
THIS is even as the Kaduna government has urged solid mineral mining experts and Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) officials to assist in the exploration of the abundant natural resources in the state for foreign exchange earnings.

Governor Uba Sani made the call at the opening of a meeting on the establishment of strategic engagement of solid minerals clusters for export competitiveness in Kaduna.

Represented by the Commissioner for Business, Innovation and Technology, Patience Fakai, the governor expressed the “unwavering commitment of the Kaduna State government to the development of our solid minerals sector and the broader vision of economic diversification for the country’s development.”

He commended the NEPC and the Kaduna Mining Development Company for organising the timely and critical engagement, noting: “Your efforts to bring together miners, processors, exporters, investors, and regulatory bodies underscore the collaborative spirit needed to unlock the vast potential of our solid minerals sector.”

In her address, NEP’s Executive Director, Mrs Nonye Ayeni, acknowledged the nation’s huge mineral resources, noting, however, the numerous challenges that include informal activities, lack of funding, inadequate mining technology, lack of quality and standards, insufficient geological data, and capacity building.