MAN, RMRDC Collaborate on Raw Materials Sourcing
By Crusoe Osagie
The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) have stressed the need to develop the non-metallic industry in Nigeria so as to reap the economic benefit of sourcing raw materials locally.
Speaking during a collaborative seminar to explore the potentials and challenges of sourcing raw materials for the non-metallic industry in Nigeria, organised by MAN and RMRDC the Director General (MAN), Engineer Olawale Akinpelu, stressed that there was serious need to unlock Nigeria's potentials in this area.
"I am highly impressed with the RMRDC for the initiative of focusing the present seminar on the non-metallic mineral products subsector which comprises the cement manufacturers, ceramic, fibre cement, glass and school chalk and crayon manufacturers group," he said.
"It is against this background that we consider government's new economic policy thrust of diversification from the oil controlled economy as a welcome development.," he added.
Also speaking at the event, the Director General of RMRDC Dr Abubakar Abdullahi said the non-metallic mineral sector like the agricultural sector has not received adequate attention.
He said agriculture was known to have received less attention when petroleum became dominant in the economy. Apart from coal and limestone, most non-metallic mineral sector was dominated by illegal mining activities and processing operations with low-level value addition. However, increased attention had been shown by government in the establishment of the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development.
He added that current efforts of government on solid minerals development has helped to reduce illegal mining operations as well as provide insight into investment potentials of Nigeria's solid minerals. "With this development, solid minerals could serve as an alternative foreign exchange earners for the country in the years ahead," he said.
"available data from Geological Surveys Department, Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development (FMSMD), Nigerian Mining Corporation (NMC), Nigerian Steel Raw Materials Exploration Agency and individual researchers and earth scientists revealed strong about thirty five minerals in Nigeria. There are about thirty-five minerals and rocks that are of fundamental importance in industry. among these are clay, diatomite, limestone, glass sand, phosphate, barite, gypsum, coal, feldspar, talc and marble. Some of these non-metallic minerals are being exploited on a large scale while others are mined only on a small scale."
|
