Global investors eye Nigeria’s lithium reserves

International investors are showing increasing interest in Nigeria’s lithium reserves, according to Segun Tomori, special assistant on media to Dele Alake, the minister of solid minerals development.

During an XSpace session hosted by TheCable on Monday, Tomori described lithium as the most sought-after mineral globally, citing its critical role in producing electric vehicles, solar panels, and other green energy technologies.

According to him, “Lithium is a major dragnet, it is what attracts a lot of investors across the world.”

“Lithium is topping the list, gold is also in contention, nickel, cobalt too. Lithium is topping the charts in terms of interest, and we have seen the springing up of lithium factories in Nigeria already,”

Africa’s lithium race

Zimbabwe currently holds the largest share of lithium deposits in Africa, with significant Chinese investments. But Nigeria is also eager to claim a piece of the global market. By 2030, Africa is projected to supply 20% of the world’s lithium.

In 2023, China’s Ming Xin Mineral Separation Nig Ltd. was chosen by Kaduna State to build Nigeria’s first lithium-processing plant, with plans to manufacture batteries for electric vehicles (EVs).

In 2022, the Nigerian government claimed it had rejected a proposal from Tesla to purchase raw lithium from the country.

Ayodeji Adeyemi, special assistant to the minister of mines and steel development, told Rest of World that the proposal was turned down because it did not align with Nigeria’s new mining policies.

“Our new mining policy demands that you add some value to raw mineral ores, including lithium before you export to create jobs and build industries,” Adeyemi said. “They don’t have to turn ores into finished goods. We are only asking them to add some value before exporting.”

Recently, President Ramaphosa of South Africa also expressed his interest in collaborating with Nigeria to harness critical minerals, particularly lithium, to drive the green energy transition and support the development of EV batteries.

Tomori revealed that a lithium factory was inaugurated in 2024, bringing the total number of commissioned factories to two, with a third currently under construction.

As Nigeria ramps up its lithium processing capabilities, the country is positioning itself as a key player in the global clean energy transition.

By Adekunle Agbetiloye, Business Insider Africa

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Nigeria's Dangote Refinery to operate at full capacity in 30 days

Nigeria's Dangote Oil refinery, Africa's largest, could begin operating at full capacity in 30 days, the head of the refinery said on Monday.

The 650,000-barrel-per-day refinery built by Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote in Lagos began processing crude into products, including diesel, naphtha and jet fuel, in January last year and started processing petrol in September.

It aims to compete with European refiners when operating at full capacity but had been struggling to secure sufficient crude locally.

Edwin Devakumar, head of the Dangote oil refinery said it was currently operating at 85% capacity and "we can go 100 percent in 30 days."

Last year, the refinery turned to importing crude after it was unable to secure sufficient volumes despite an agreement with the Nigerian government to buy crude in the local naira currency.

It has asked for 550,000 bpd of crude for January-June this year from oil producers in Nigeria, according to the oil regulator, which has also said it would block export permits for oil cargoes from producers who fail to meet their stipulated supply quota to local refineries.

The Dangote Oil Refinery is exploring new markets for its refined products. Founder Aliko Dangote told a group of Nigerian professionals who visited last week that it was sending two cargoes of jet fuel to Saudi Aramco as part of its plans to expand.

"We are looking at all the markets right now," said Devakumar.

By Isaac Anyaogu, Reuters

Nigerian residents take Shell to UK High court following 10-year fight for justice

After a decade-long fight for justice, the Preliminary Issues Trial of Nigerian Law for Shell vs Ogale and Bille communities is set to take place at the UK High Court from 13 February to 10 March 2025.

Ten years ago, residents from the Bille and Ogale communities in Nigeria claimed their livelihoods had been destroyed and homes damaged by hundreds of oil spills caused by Shell. The pollution caused widespread devastation to the local environment, killing fish and plant life, leaving thousands of people without access to clean drinking water.

The communities brought their claims in the UK courts however Shell repeatedly delayed the case arguing it had no legal responsibility for any of the pollution. The delay has had a devastating effect on people’s lives.

On 6 December 2024, the UK Court of Appeal gave the green light for the case finally to go ahead. Isa Sanusi, Amnesty International’s Country Director for Nigeria, said:

“The Bille and Ogale communities of Nigeria’s Niger Delta oil-producing region have been living with the devastating impact of oil pollution for so long. Oil companies, particularly Shell, exposed them to multiple oil spills that have done permanent damage to farmlands, waterways, and drinking water – leaving them unable to farm or fish.

“Water contamination and other impacts affect even babies that are in some cases born with deformities. These communities have been deprived of a good standard of living. They deserve justice and effective remediation, and I hope this long-overdue trial goes someway to providing it.”

Amnesty International has published numerous reports, documenting the detrimental impact Shell’s operations are having on Nigerian communities. Going forward, Amnesty International is calling for Shell to conduct meaningful consultation with affected communities about its plans for disengagement. Shell must also provide a full remediation plan including details of all completed and ongoing clean-ups across its areas of operation, as well as adequate compensation for the severe and sustained harm affected communities have faced as a result of Shell’s operations in the Niger Delta.

Background

The two communities from Nigeria will be represented by Leigh Day. The Shell Preliminary Issues Trial of Nigerian Law will aim to resolve a number of Nigerian private and constitutional law questions, with a view to confirming the legal framework to be applied to the subsequent trial between Shell and the Ogale and Bille communities.

The Court of Appeal heard the Shell Nigeria oil spill appeal on 8 October 2024. On 11 October 2024, the Court of Appeal ruled in favour of Nigerian communities over alleged pollution by oil giant Shell. On 6 December 2024, a full trial of Nigerian communities’ claims against Shell was given the go ahead.

Over the past 20 years, Amnesty International has conducted extensive research and documented the human rights and environmental impact of Shell’s operations in the Niger Delta. In Amnesty’s 2023 report, Nigeria: Tainted Sale?, the organization recommended a series of safeguards to protect the rights of people potentially affected by Shell’s planned disposal of its oil interests in Nigeria.

Amnesty International