Rabiu Omaku
Less than three after a Chinese mining Company has commissioned one of the largest Lithium extracting company, Again
Avatar New Energy Materials Co Ltd, the Chinese firm that recently commissioned the largest lithium processing plant in Africa, located in Endo, Nasarawa Local Government Area, has indicated its readiness to build a second phase lithium factory in the Udege area.
This position was made known when the Chief Executive officers of Chinese mining companies paid a courtesy visit to Governor Abdullahi Sule at the Government House in Lafia.
Mr. Josh Zhu, chief executive of Avatar New Energy Materials Co Ltd, who spoke through an interpreter, disclosed plans by his company to establish a second phase of lithium factory in Udege.
Zhu gave the hint during the visit which he maintained was in fulfillment of the promise the company made during the commissioning of its first phase plant in Endo.
“He explained that the good news today we would like to deliver is that we are determined to build another plant in Nasarawa Local Government with the same capacity. That is, we will be the number one lithium processing also in Nasarawa or in Nigeria. As we promised in the commissioning, we are going to make lithium processing in a global area in the lithium industry,” he stated.
The CEO appreciated the Nasarawa State Governor, Engineer Abdullahi Sule, and his administration for providing his company with the enabling environment, Zhu revealed that the plant in Endo is producing with the company aiming to achieve full production capacity soon.
Giving the assurances that Avatar will provide more employment for the citizens of the state, as well as an improved welfare package for both its staff and the host community.
This is just as the Ganfeng Mining Company also assured that it will invest further in Nasarawa State.
Mr. Chang Jiang-Yu, The Chief Executive of the Ganfeng Mining Company said his company is committed to investing in schools, clinics, hospitals, and boreholes as corporate social responsibility.
Yu appreciated Governor Sule and his administration for their continued support for Ganfeng Mining Company to be the first Lithium Company in the State.
While responding, Governor Abdullahi Sule reiterated the determination of his administration to create an enabling environment for investors to come to Nasarawa State.
The Governor told the visiting company executives that in any meeting they held with him, they should know they were dealing with the entire State, adding that whatever they discussed, was solely for the benefit of the state and not him personally.
“Let me first and foremost welcome Avatar officials, as well as the Ganfeng officials, both the ones from China and the ones in Nigeria. I want to welcome you, and I want to say that today, you have the opportunity to meet other Government officials in the State.
“The reason why I want you to meet these people is that you will know any meeting you are having with me, is beyond me, you are meeting Nasarawa State government. Anything you are going to do, you are doing it for Nasarawa State, not for me. That is why you must have the opportunity to meet with some of them,” he stated.
It could be recalled that the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu commissioned the largest Avatar, Lithium Extraction Company in Nasarawa Local Government.
