By Ruth Tene Natsa, Abuja
The Nigerian government and South Korea have resumed talks on revising a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the solid minerals sector recently.
The talks were held under the auspices of the Seventh Korea-Africa Economic Co-operation conference in Busan, South Korea and resolved to review a 2006 Memorandum of Understanding to include training of Nigerian mining professionals in Geochemistry, Geophysics, Ore Modelling, Mineral Processing, research, and exploration of critical minerals such as lithium, nickel, cobalt, manganese, and graphite.
The Nigerian team comprised officials of the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, led by the Director-General of the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency, Dr.Abdulrazaq Garbare who represented the Solid Minerals Minister, Dr.Oladele Alake, at the talks.
The Korean Institute of Geosciences and Mineral Resources, KIGAM, and Korean Mines Rehabilitation and Mineral Resources Corporation, KOMIR, represented South Korea.
KIGAM president, Dr Pyeong Koo-lee, offered to collaborate with Nigeria to explore the large deposits of lithium-bearing pegmatites, stating that KIGAM has the best technology in lithium ore processing, adding that the beneficiation process can reduce the carbon to improve the grade of the ore.
Vice President of the state-owned KOMIR, Dr. Alex Kwon, expressed interest in overseas mining investment, adding that KOMIR provides technical and financial assistance and investment in the exploration and mining of solid minerals. Noting that KOMIR partners private sector to invest in the global mining industry a statement by the Ministry’s, Deputy Director (Information), Alaba Balogun stated
