By George OPARA
The federal government has embarked on a tour of the ongoing construction of a $400m rare earth processing plant in the Uke community of Nasarawa State.
A delegation from the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development (MSMD) assessed the project’s compliance with regulatory requirements and environmental standards.
Spear News Nigeria gathered that the facility, being developed by Hasetins Commodities Limited, is expected to add 12,000 tonnes per annum to the company’s existing capacity and increase total output to 18,000 tonnes per annum.
Members of the delegation were the Director, Mining Inspectorate, MSMD, Mr Ganiyu Imam, and the Director, Mines Environmental Compliance, Dr Vivian Okono.
Imam said the team was satisfied with the level of compliance at the site and urged the company to sustain the safety and environmental measures put in place.
A Deputy Director in the ministry, Mr Oladehinde Oladusi, who represented Dr Okono during the visit, commended the quality of work and the modern equipment deployed at the facility.
He said the project was different from cases where companies extract minerals without proper environmental considerations.
“The commitment that we have seen so far in respect of the way the company is starting is different from the narrative of some others, who just bumped into our environment, broke the ground and carry our minerals away,” Oladusi said.
He commended Hasetins for conducting an environmental and social impact assessment before commencing the project.
“One of the first things that impressed me about this company is the initiative it took to prepare a sound environmental and social impact assessment, which is one of the prerequisites to commence this kind of big project. It is quite impressive.
“I am quite impressed and what we need to do now is to encourage them to see that most of the mitigation measures that are inside that document are put in place,” Oladusi said.
He also commended the security arrangements at the site and advised the company to ensure an adequate community development agreement to prevent future disputes when operations begin.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Hasetins, Prince Jidayi, thanked the Federal Government and the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake, for their support and encouragement.
Jidayi said the company was introducing new approaches to the processing of rare earth and critical minerals in Nigeria.
“For decades, the narrative has been of raw extraction and immediate export. Hasetins is advancing that. This plant will process rare earth metals and other critical like Tantalum, Tungsten tin and others.
“In doing so, we are strictly deploying advanced, closed-loop processing technologies designed to minimize environmental impact, manage Tailings responsibly and protect local water bodies and air quality.
“We believe that extracting and processing the components of the world’s green energy transition must not come at the expense of our local environment,” he said.
Jidayi added that the company was establishing regional separation centres and satellite separation centres to integrate artisanal and small-scale miners into a structured supply chain.
“We are equipping them with gears, safety, training, support and offering them offtake structures that increases economic stability at rural communities,” he stated.
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