Nigeria To Launch Lithium Processing Plant At AFNIS 2025 Summit.
The Federal Government of Nigeria is set to commission a state-of-the-art lithium processing plant during the 4th edition of the African Natural Resources and Energy Investment Summit (AFNIS), scheduled for 14–17 July at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja. The initiative, led by the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development under Dr Dele Alake, underscores Nigeria’s commitment to harnessing its mineral wealth for sustainable economic growth.
The lithium plant, developed by ASBA Group, a Nigerian conglomerate with investments in mining and industrial development, is a flagship project aligned with Dr Alake’s local value addition policy. Segun Tomori, Special Assistant on Media to the Minister, described the facility as a “testament to the potential for job creation, technology transfer, and downstream industrialisation.” The plant is expected to bolster Nigeria’s position in the global lithium market, critical for battery production in electric vehicles and renewable energy systems.
The AFNIS 2025 summit, themed “Harnessing Local Content for Sustainable Development,” will bring together mining, energy, agriculture, and finance professionals alongside policymakers from across Africa. The event aims to foster collaboration and develop solutions for sustainable resource management, building on the success of previous summits that secured multi-billion-dollar investment deals, including partnerships forged at the 2023 G20 Summit in New Delhi. Notable attendees include Kenya’s Secretary of Mining, Hassan Ali Joho, Liberia’s former Minister of Agriculture, Jeanine Cooper, and Damilola Ogunbiyi, CEO of Sustainable Energy for All, alongside a high-powered delegation from the Indian Business Council.
The plant’s commissioning follows the recent launch of Nigeria’s largest lithium processing facility in Nasarawa, capable of processing 4,000 metric tonnes daily, as announced by Governor Abdullahi Sule in April 2024.
Dr Alake, who chairs the Africa Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG), is leveraging his continental influence to ensure the summit delivers tangible outcomes. The event will also showcase Nigeria’s efforts to attract foreign investment while promoting local content, with ASBA Group’s partnership exemplifying this approach. As global demand for lithium surges—projected to generate $11 billion by 2025 across Africa, according to Kenyan President William Ruto at the 2023 Africa Climate Summit—Nigeria is positioning itself as a key player in the critical minerals supply chain.
The commissioning of the lithium plant marks a significant step towards industrialising Nigeria’s solid minerals sector, promising economic diversification and sustainable development for the nation and the continent.
