Nigeria and France have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to develop joint projects to promote critical minerals in the solid minerals sector of both countries.
The partnership will open opportunity for the remediation of over 2,000 abandoned pits in the country through environmental rehabilitation and post-mining projects intervention plans, a statement signed by Segun Tomori, special assistant on media to the minister, seen by BusinessDay on Sunday, said.
The statement said the MOU would cover critical minerals such as copper, lithium, nickel, cobalt, and rare earth elements that are essential to clean energy technologies.
Dele Alake, minister of solid minerals development, signed for Nigeria while Benjamin Gallezot, inter-ministerial delegate for critical ores and metals of the Republic of France, signed on behalf of France.
In the MOU signed by both countries on the sidelines of the official visit of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to France, both countries agreed to collaborate on research, training and Franco-Nigerian students exchanges for knowledge and skills transfer.
Read also: FG unveils ambitious plans to transform Nigeria into mining powerhouse
A key component of the MOU is the promotion of sustainable mining activities by executing projects and programmes that reduce the environmental impact of mining on carbon emissions, water consumption, and climate change, the statement noted.
It also includes the establishment of joint extractive and processing projects through co-financing by public and private entities to diversify and secure the supply of critical minerals and decarbonise energy projects critical to the value chain.
Both nations agreed to adopt international best practices in the execution of projects conceptualised to improve the conditions of the local populace affected by mining while placing premium on transparency.
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