BREAKING: Nigeria launches ๐ massive $400 million rare earth processing plant.
The plant will boost rare earth processing capacity to 18,000 tons per year.
A $400 million rare earth and critical metals processing plant is under construction in Nasarawa State. The facility will process 18,000 tonnes annually, making it the largest rare earth processing investments in Africa.
The facility is designed to process critical minerals such as tantalum, tungsten, and tin, which are essential components in defense systems, electric vehicles etc.
Now this will be significant interest to the U.S, which has been seeking strategic partnerships with Nigeria to secure critical rare earth elements and lithium to bolster its defense systems and reduce heavy reliance on Chinese supply chains. Rare earth minerals are the lifeblood of the U.S. defense industrial base, essential for manufacturing precision-guided weapons, fighter jets, radar arrays, and warships.
Nigeria holds vast, untapped reserves of rare earth elements, tantalite, coltan, and lithium primarily located in regions like Nasarawa, Kaduna, Kogi, and Ekiti states.