A delegation of the federal government has visited the site of the ongoing construction of a $400m rare earth processing plant under construction in the Uke community of Nasarawa state to assess the level of compliance with relevant regulations and standards.

The facility aimed to add 12,000 tonnes per annum to the company’s existing capacity, increasing its total output to 18,000 tonnes per annum (tpa) and positioning Nigeria as Africa’s leading hub for rare earth processing.

The delegation, which included the Director, Mining Inspectorate, Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development (MSMD), Mr. Ganiyu Imam and the Director, Mines Environmental Compliance, Dr. Vivian Okono, expressed delight about the progress made so far, the commitment of those behind the project and their willingness to play by the rules.

Imam said the delegation was satisfied with the level of compliance with relevant requirements and standards and urged Hasetins to ensure that all necessary precautionary and safety measures being put in place are sustained.

A Deputy Director in the MSMD, Mr Oladehinde Oladusi, who stood in for Dr. Okono, commended Hasetins for the quality of work as well as modern standard equipment available at the site.

Oladusi said: “The commitment that we have seen so far in respect of the way the company is starting is different from the narrative of just bumping into our environment, broke the ground and carrying our minerals away.

“You can see equipment starked properly, the administrative block is there where you have the initial test machine to be put in place and of course the site under clearance”, Oladusi stated.

He specifically commended Hasetins for not only carrying out a proper environmental assessment of the community but also having on ground advance technology that would reduce to the barest minimum the hazards and dangers associated with mining.

Oladusi said:”One of the first things that impressed me, when you are putting up something like this definitely the environment will be affected. And, for this company to take the initiative to prepare a sound environmental and social impact assessment, which is one of the prerequisites to commence this kind of big project, is quite impressive.

“I am quite impressed and what we need to do now is to encourage them to see that most of the mitigation measures that are inside that document are put in place.”

He commended Hasetins for putting in place adequate security arrangements and advised its management to ensure an adequate community development agreement, to prevent a crisis in the future when work fully commences and the company begins to make progress.

Hasetins’ Managing Director and CEO, Prince Jidayi expressed appreciation to the FG, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake and his Special Assistant, Kehinde Bamigbetan for their continued support and encouragement.

Jidayi spoke about the many innovations that his company is introducing to the processing of rare earth and critical metals in the country and assured his company’s host communities of continued support.

Jidayi said: “For decades the narrative has been of raw extraction and immediate export. Hasetins is advancing that. This plant will process rare earth metals and other critical metals like Tantalum, Tungsten tin and others.

“In doing so, we are strictly deploying advanced, closed-loop processing technologies designed to minimize environmental impact, manage Tailings responsibly and protect local water bodies and air quality.

“We believe that extracting and processing the components of the world’s green energy transition must not come at the expense of our local environment,” he said.

The project is being developed by indigenous firm Hasetins Commodities Limited. The firm’s boss added that, aside from the Uke project, which serves as the firm’s central hub, “we are setting up regional separation centres and satellite separation centres to integrate and formalise artisanal and small-scale miners into a structured and safe supply chain.”

“We are equipping them with gears, safety, training, support, and offering them offtake structures that increase economic stability in rural communities,” he said.