The Minister of solid minerals Dele Alake disclosed Nigeria and France have reached an agreement to develop joint projects aimed at promoting and diversifying the critical minerals value chain within the solid minerals sector of both our countries.
The signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) establishes Nigeria commitment to collaborate on research, training, and student exchanges between Franco-Nigerian institutions to facilitate knowledge and skills transfer.
A significant aspect of this MOU is Nigeria dedication to promoting sustainable mining activities. Nigeria will implement projects and programs designed to minimize the environmental impact of mining, addressing issues related to carbon emissions, water consumption, and climate change.
Additionally, the agreement includes plans for establishing joint extraction and processing projects, supported by co-financing from both public and private sectors. This initiative aims to diversify and secure the supply of critical minerals while decarbonizing energy projects that are vital to the value chain.
The Minister signed the MOU on behalf of Nigeria, while Mr. Benjamin Gallezot, the Inter-Ministerial delegate for Critical Ores and Metals of the Republic of France, signed on behalf of France.
Together, both countries have committed to adopting international best practices in the execution of these projects, ensuring that we improve the conditions for local communities affected by mining, with a strong emphasis on transparency.