The federal government has stated that as part of its long term plan towards boosting the production of barite locally, importation of the industrial mineral may be banned in the long run.
The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Arc. Olamilekan Adegbite disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja in his speech at a one-day Stakeholders Forum on Local Barite Development in Nigeria, facilitated by the World Bank assisted Mineral Sector Support for Diversification (MINDIVER) project of the ministry.
The Minister noted that the ban is to be effected once the local market is satisfied, while export of barite to other African countries where oil and gas drilling activities are taking place will commence.
“To meet our overarching objective, we have mapped out a development strategy towards creating a sustainable industry in Nigeria to support, regulate and monitor stakeholders along the Barite value chain.
“This process will assist local companies with proven reserves that meet the industry standards to develop capacity and close the demand/supply gap that exists in the country currently in the short term.
“The long term plan is to place a ban on the importation of Barite once the local market is satisfied and, export Barite to other African countries where oil and gas drilling activities are taking place. This will create job opportunites and boost the nation’s revenue base,” he said.
Adegbite noted that in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s vision for a more diversified, inclusive, and sustainable economy, the federal government initiated bold mining sector reforms that would deliver the objectives of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) in restoring growth, investing in our people and building a globally competitive economy.
He said determined to achieve the objective, the ministry facilitated the development of an industrial mineral roadmap aimed at optimsing Nigeria’s industrial minerals to meet the standards of the manufacturing, industrial, and construction industry and to reduce import dependency.
According to him, the road map delineated seven key minerals for quick development of which barite is one.
Worried that the country has barite in commercial quantity and still imports the commodity, the Minister said, “From our recent demand/gap analysis shows that out of the total value of Nigeria’s industrial minerals imports in 2016, barite represented 3.6 %. The country spends millions of hard earned dollars every year importing barite, a mineral we are abundantly endowed with in the northern part of the country. With each import of barite we are shipping thousands of jobs from our country to other countries.”
The Minister who noted that barite is produced in the country, said the excuses have been that it is of low quality.
“So there is need to produce barite that would meet international standards,” he cautioned.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Minister of State, Dr Uchechukwu Ogah who expressed the hope that the workshop will go a long way towards addressing issues impeding the successful local production of the industrial mineral, even as it is abundant in the country.
Presenting an overview of barite development in Nigeria, a consultant on Barite development, Dolapo Lagunju, said the expected consumption of barite in 2020 in the country is about 270, 000 metric tonnes worth about US$96 million.
On his part, the President, Association of Miners and Processors of Barite (AMAPOB), Chief Stephen Also, said the problem of the barite sub-sector has largely been policy inconsistency of government and the focus on importation of the product over the years.
He said Nigeria has the commodity in large quantity and high quality that meets international standards.
“Listening to the Minister’s speech, I felt convinced that the time has come for the development of barite locally.
“We have enough barite in the country that meets all international standards,” he said.
