Nigeria Inspects $400m Rare Earth Processing Plant in Nasarawa
The plant, under construction by indigenous mining firm Hasetins Commodities Limited in Uke, is expected to increase the company’s processing capacity by 12,000 tonnes annually, bringing its total output to 18,000 tonnes per year.
A delegation from the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development (MSMD), led by the Director of Mining Inspectorate, Ganiyu Imam, alongside officials from the ministry’s environmental compliance department, visited the site to evaluate the project’s adherence to environmental, safety and regulatory standards.
During the inspection, ministry officials said the project had so far demonstrated compliance with key regulatory requirements, particularly in environmental planning and safety management. They, however, urged the company to sustain high standards throughout the construction and operational phases.
Representing the Director of Mines Environmental Compliance, Deputy Director Oladehinde Oladusi commended the company’s approach to responsible mineral development.
“The commitment that we have seen so far is different from the narrative of some others who simply extract minerals and leave,” Oladusi said.
He noted that Hasetins had completed the necessary environmental and social impact assessments and appeared to be adopting technologies designed to minimise environmental risks associated with mineral processing activities.
Oladusi also encouraged the company to maintain strong relationships with host communities through effective community development agreements, describing such engagement as critical to preventing future disputes and ensuring sustainable operations.
The project aligns with Nigeria’s broader strategy of expanding domestic value addition within the mining sector by promoting local processing and refining rather than the export of raw mineral resources.
Rare earth elements and other critical minerals have become increasingly important in global supply chains due to their applications in electric vehicles, renewable energy systems, electronics manufacturing and defence technologies.
Speaking during the visit, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Hasetins Commodities Limited, Prince Jidayi, said the facility would process rare earth minerals alongside other critical metals, including tantalum, tungsten and tin.
“For decades the narrative has been of raw extraction and immediate export,” Jidayi said. “This plant will process rare earth metals and other critical minerals in-country.”
He added that the company plans to deploy closed-loop processing technologies aimed at reducing environmental impacts and ensuring responsible management of mining waste.
Jidayi further disclosed that the company has already established regional and satellite processing centres to integrate artisanal and small-scale miners into a more structured and formal supply chain.
According to him, the initiative will provide miners with safety training, equipment support and organised offtake arrangements, helping to improve standards across the sector.
The inspection comes as Nigeria ramps up efforts to attract investment into its solid minerals industry as part of a wider strategy to diversify the economy and reduce dependence on oil revenues.
