Cement, glass makers challenged by low quality of solid minerals
Quality of solid minerals, which are essential inputs for cement, glass and ceramics makers, remains a major challenge facing manufacturers in the sector, according to Mohammed Buga, head of Industrial, Chemicals and Minerals at the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC).
Speaking at the annual general meeting of the Non-metallic Products Group of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), which is made up of players in cement, glass, ceramics and chalk, in Lagos, Buga said lack of geoscience data is a critical issue affecting solid minerals exploration by both manufacturers and investors.
“The major issue is the quality of raw materials. Are they enough? Yes, they are. Even if the deposits are there, how good are there?” he asked.
Nigeria has over 40 minerals in commercial quantity. Nonmetallic products sector uses critical solid minerals such as talc, limestone, feldspar, gypsum, and kaolin, among others. However, cement makers have, many times, resorted to importing gypsum and talc because the locally available ones were not good enough.
Buga explained that inadequate funding, poor infrastructure, insecurity and inadequate skilled manpower are critical issues affecting the solid minerals sector.
He disclosed that because of the challenges in the solid minerals sector, the RMRDC has intervened by setting up a phosphate plant in Sokoto and Ogun, including a fertilizer blending plant in Enugu.
He further said the agency has set up kaolin processing plants in Gwarzo (Kano) and Kankara (Katsina), while establishing many catalytic factories on non-metallic minerals.
On his part, Ime Ekrikpo, director of ferrous metals at the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, said his ministry has granted 84 million to 11 universities for research in various areas of mining.
He said the Executive Order 005, which specifies patronage and engagement of indigenous professionals in planning, design and execution of national security projects, needs to be legislated upon to make it have a grounding effect.
“We need to train Nigerians in key components of science and technology. If we are not able to do intensive manpower development, people will come in and do them for us when the African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA) starts,” he said.
He explained that one major problem faced by solid minerals players is poor infrastructure as people spend a lot of money to transport iron ore from Itakpe (in Kogi State) to where it is needed for further beneficiation or sale.
John Aluya, immediate past chairman of the Non-metallic Products Group of MAN, lamented that manufacturers were often asked by the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development to present permits of solid minerals they buy even when they are only consumers using them for production.
“We can give the ministry data if that is what they want, but when you attach a tax to what we buy by asking us to present permits, that is what we do not want,” he said.