The governments of Nigeria and France, on Sunday, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop joint projects aimed at promoting and diversifying the critical minerals value chain in the solid minerals sectors of both countries.

Critical minerals such as copper, lithium, nickel, cobalt, and rare earth elements are essential components of clean energy technologies.

The MoU, signed during President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent official visit to France, focuses on collaboration in research, training, and student exchange programmes between Franco-Nigerian institutions to facilitate knowledge and skills transfer.

A significant component of the agreement is the promotion of sustainable mining practices. Both countries commit to executing projects and programmes that minimise the environmental impact of mining activities, including reducing carbon emissions, conserving water, and addressing climate change challenges.

It also includes the establishment of joint extraction and processing projects through co-financing by public and private entities to diversify and secure the supply of critical minerals and decarbonize energy projects critical to the value chain.

Dr. Alake signed for Nigeria, while the Inter-Ministerial delegate for Critical Ores and Metals of the Republic of France, Mr. Benjamin Gallezot, signed on behalf of France.

Both nations agreed to adopt international best practices in the execution of projects conceptualized to improve the conditions of the local populace affected by mining while placing a premium on transparency.

The MoU is expected to open new opportunities for the remediation of over 2,000 abandoned pits in the country through its plan to intervene in environmental rehabilitation and post-mining projects.

Through regular bilateral and multilateral training, seminars, and events, administrators of institutions in the critical metals sector are expected to improve their capacity to manage the sector’s value chain.

Describing the deal as a boost to the efforts of the Tinubu administration to reposition Nigeria’s solid minerals sector for international competitiveness, Alake stressed that the ministry would leverage the partnership to open up the mining sector to French investors.