en.Wedoany.com Reported - Nigeria has commissioned a large-scale lithium processing plant in Nasarawa State, operated by Diamond New Energy, with a daily processing capacity of 6,000 tons of lithium and an estimated annual capacity of 3 million tons, making it one of the largest lithium processing facilities in the country and Africa.
During construction, the project created over 1,000 direct jobs and more than 2,000 indirect employment opportunities for the local community, serving as a significant driver of Nigeria's industrialization and growth agenda.
Nigeria's Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the commissioning ceremony, highlighted the critical role of metals and minerals in today's technology-driven era, stating that Nigeria is entering a new phase of growth in the metal industry.
Senator Shettima noted that Nigeria must maximize its industrial advantages, turning its endowments into engines of prosperity, or else pay the price for a lack of innovation. He believes that the commissioning of the Diamond New Energy project in Nasarawa State represents a vote of confidence in Nigeria, Nasarawa State, and the government's reforms, demonstrating that Nigeria is ready to participate in the global mineral economy in a way that creates jobs, develops skills, strengthens local enterprises, and expands the production base.
He further pointed out that Nigeria has often focused solely on underground resources themselves, neglecting the process of adding value to these metals and minerals. Transforming a country requires a conscious shift from extraction to processing, from potential to production, from raw materials to value-added products, and from isolated investments to an integrated industrial ecosystem.
The commissioning of Nigeria's Diamond New Energy lithium processing plant marks progress in Africa's push to build local mineral value chains and extract more value from its resources. As more countries vie for downstream capacity, the continent's narrative on critical minerals is shifting from potential to production, and Nigeria is positioning itself as a key player in the global lithium supply chain.
