By SUNDAY ABBA, Abuja
Seventeen years after, Nigeria and South Korea have resumed talks to, among other things, review a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the two countries on investment in the Nigerian solid minerals sector in 2006.
Nigerian public and private sector officials and the South Korean government participated in the talks, a statement signed by the head of Information and Public Relations in the ministry, Alaba Balogun, said.
“The Nigerian side comprised officials of the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development (MSMD) and Oando Mining Company, while the Korean Institute of Geosciences and Mineral Resources (KIGAM), and Korean Mines Rehabilitation and Mineral Resources Corporation (KOMIR) represented South Korea.
“Dr Abdulrazaq Garba, the Director-General of the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA) represented the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Oladele Alake, at the talks which were held under the auspices of the Seventh Korea-Africa Economic Co-operation conference in Busan, South Korea,” it further revealed.
According to the statement, both sides resolved to review the 2006 MoU 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.
KIGAM president, Dr. Pyeong Koo-lee, offered to collaborate with Nigeria to explore the large deposits of lithium-bearing pegmatites.
He said 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.
On his part, 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.
