en.Wedoany.com Reported - Nigeria has announced the discovery of a world-class critical minerals region in its northwestern Kaduna State, as the country seeks to diversify its economy and join the race to supply battery and technology metals for the energy transition.

At the Africa Natural Resources and Energy Investment Summit in Abuja, Nigerian officials stated that private company Steron Mining, in collaboration with the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency, discovered high-grade deposits of platinum group metals, gold, nickel, copper, lithium, and rare earth elements in Kaduna State. Nigeria's Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, described the discovery at the summit as one of the most significant advancements in the country's mining sector in recent years, adding that the nation is positioning itself as an emerging destination for strategic mineral resources and sustainable mining investment.

In a related announcement, Steron Mining disclosed that its exploration work in the Abuja area has identified approximately 3.3 million tons of lithium reserves. Geologists from the company stated that the broader project is estimated to contain 94.8 million tons of mineral resources, including lithium-bearing ores and granite. The company did not disclose the lithium grade, resource classification, or estimated contained lithium.

Industry observers noted that significant obstacles remain before these discoveries can be translated into large-scale production, including infrastructure constraints, power shortages, artisanal mining activities, and regulatory challenges. Nigeria's lithium potential has attracted international attention, with Chinese companies including Jiuling Lithium and Canmax Technologies committing over $1.3 billion to build processing facilities in Kaduna State and elsewhere. The government is emphasizing domestic beneficiation, with Steron stating that it is already processing lithium ore locally before export, in line with policies to increase value-added content.