The Federal Government of Nigeria has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Republic of France to strengthen and diversify the value chain of critical minerals within the solid minerals sector.
This collaboration was announced in a statement on Sunday by Segun Tomori, Special Assistant on Media to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake. The agreement was finalized during President Bola Tinubu’s recent visit to France.
The statement emphasized the importance of critical minerals such as copper, lithium, nickel, cobalt, and rare earth elements for advancing clean energy technologies.
“Both countries have agreed to collaborate in areas including research, training, and student exchanges between Franco-Nigerian institutions to foster knowledge and skills transfer,” the statement read.
A significant aspect of the agreement focuses on promoting sustainable mining practices. The partnership aims to execute projects and programmes designed to minimize the environmental impact of mining, including carbon emissions, water consumption, and climate change effects.
Minister Dele Alake highlighted the ministry’s commitment to leveraging this partnership to attract French investors to Nigeria’s mining sector.
“The MoU includes establishing joint mining and processing projects through co-financing by public and private entities. These efforts aim to diversify and secure the supply of critical minerals while supporting decarbonization in energy projects linked to the value chain,” Tomori added.
The agreement was signed by Dr. Alake on behalf of Nigeria and Mr. Benjamin Gallezot, the Inter-Ministerial Delegate for Critical Ores and Metals of France.
Both nations also pledged to adhere to international best practices in project execution, prioritizing the well-being of local communities affected by mining activities and ensuring transparency in all processes.
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