by Alex Enemana, The Rock Post magazine.
Mecon Geology and Engineering Services Ltd/Dapmat Drilling, one of the five companies engaged by the federal government, last week submitted its final report after several months, of intensive mineral exploration aimed at obtaining data to de-risk the mining sector.
The project christened National Integrated Mineral Exploration Project (NIMEP) is said to be the largest exploration project in the country’s history to date.
One of the 5 Lots, Lot A 4, contracted to Mecon Geology & Engineering Services Ltd, covers 64,500Km2 for barytes and other mineral deposits.
The exploration venture also provides geosciences information that will incentivise the solid mineral sector to attract the much needed investors with the focal aim of boosting the country’s capacity to mine Barytes and increase IGR.
With the discovery of new areas of interest and potentials, the project is further expected to sufficiently equip the country with capacity to key into minerals needed for the fourth industrial revolution.
The exploration activities comprised the carrying out of the detailed field geological and geophysical mapping of the project area, including the drilling of nearly 3000m of coreholes, sampling and chemical analysis of samples collected. The field survey was undertaken by a group of local consultants drawn from some of our best universities and Mecon Geoscientists under the supervision of the Managing Consultant Dr M.E Offodile and an international competent person.
Speaking at the presentation of the exploration report in his office, the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Arc Olamilekan Adegbite, observed that the sector is crucial in increasing the country’s revenue base, adding that so much resources have been committed to it.
He said. “We intend to make more money for government. This is not supposed to be just an exercise like that. We spent so much money. We are hoping that we can generate more revenue from this money that was spent”.
The minister further added, “Mining is about data; you can’t do mining without data. It is something that is hidden in the ground. It is important that we engage people and the best companies that knows how to acquire the data for us. And with this, we are de-risking the sector and are able to attract the right investors into the country.
“What we have in Nigeria is artisanal mining. But the kind of technology, equipment and funding required to get mining in the right content is beyond artisanal mining. We need proper investment to develop mining. There is need for sustainability, further escalation and more funding to do exploration.”
In his comment, the Director-General, Nigerian Geological Survey Agency/Chairman NIMEP, Dr. Abdulrazaq Garba, emphasised that exploration work seeks to spur the desired investment into the sector, generate foreign exchange, substitute for import among other gains.
According to Dr. Garba, the contracts were awarded after passing through ministerial and bureau for public procurement screening processes.
He said: “The projects are to generate geosciences information in Greenfield and Brownfield settings through integrated exploration methodologies. It is aimed at spurring the desired investment into the sector, to generate foreign exchange, substitute for import, develop local industries, generate employment, and create wealth along the mineral value chain.
“This project ensured the use of international Competent Persons (CP) in the execution of the contracts and also in the consulting team to ensure compliance with international best practices.”
Also, the Technical Director, Mecon Geology and Engineering Services, Chuka Offodile, said: “the National Integrated Mineral Exploration Project (NIMEP), is a project designed by Federal Government to carry out an integrated exploration to de-risk the Nigerian mining sector and provide geosciences data.”
Furthermore, Chuka Offodile, delightfully noted in his presentation that by engaging basic and advanced geophysical, geological and sub surface investigative techniques, as outlined in the terms of reference of the contract, 176 potential barytes and associated minerals reserve were Identified and chronicled with relatively precise details from some selected sites.
Dr. Oluwatoyin Akinlade, Permanent Secretary in the ministry, promised adequate security to all NIMEP contractors, as they continue with the exploration.
It is estimated that the country spends about 300 million dollars on the importation of Barytes annually.
With this project, such foreign exchange could be deployed in boosting local investment in Barytes and other mineral resources.
Barytes among other industrial purposes is primarily used as a weighting agent in drilling mud in the development of the oil and gas industry, also used in the manufacture of dense glass walls and window glasses especially for high rise buildings, pharmaceuticals, paints, paper industries, filler, and rubber products.
The minister is expected to submit the report to President Muhammadu Buhari for appropriate action in the coming days.
