July 3 (THEWILL) — The Federal Government has inaugurated Nigeria’s largest lithium processing plant, a facility with a daily processing capacity of 6,000 metric tonnes, as part of efforts to deepen local mineral beneficiation and strengthen the country’s industrial base.
The plant, owned by Diamond New Energy Company Ltd. and located in Endo Community, Nasarawa Local Government Area, has an annual processing capacity of three million metric tonnes.
President Bola Tinubu, represented at the inauguration by Kashim Shettima, described the project as a milestone in the government’s drive to promote value addition in the mining sector and reduce reliance on raw mineral exports.
“What changes a nation is a deliberate movement from extraction to processing, from potential to production, from raw materials to value-added goods, and from isolated investments to integrated industrial ecosystems,” the President said.
Lithium is a critical mineral used in rechargeable batteries for electric vehicles, mobile phones, laptops, and energy storage systems, making it one of the world’s fastest-growing strategic resources as demand for clean energy technologies rises.
Governor Abdullahi Sule said the project reinforces Nasarawa State’s position as a leading mining destination, noting that the state remains open to further investment across its rich deposits of lithium, gold, lead, zinc, copper and other solid minerals.
Minister of Solid Minerals Development Dele Alake said the facility reflects the success of the Federal Government’s policy of promoting domestic mineral processing instead of exporting raw ores.
According to him, the reforms are expected to unlock about $2.6 billion in mineral processing investments, including additional lithium processing facilities and an iron ore-to-steel project.
Nigeria has emerged as one of Africa’s promising lithium producers, with commercially viable deposits spread across several states, including Nasarawa, Kogi, Kwara, Kaduna, Ekiti and Plateau.
The commissioning comes as global demand for lithium continues to surge, driven by the rapid adoption of electric vehicles and renewable energy technologies. Industry forecasts project strong long-term demand for the mineral, positioning local processing as a key opportunity for Nigeria to generate more value, create jobs and strengthen its role in the global critical minerals supply chain.
Ogochukwu Onwaeze is a writer specializing in business and economic journalism. At THEWILL News Media, she translates market trends, financial developments, and policy shifts into clear and engaging stories.
