AL-HAU24news

By Our Correspondent

The Managing Director of Ganfeng Lithium Industry Limited, Mr. Kelvin Dai has expressed dismay over a report on one of the national dailies which claimed that the Nasarawa state Government has shut down their mining activities due to non payment of backlog of compensations.

Mr. Dai refuted the claim in a press statement made available to newsmen in Lafia, the state capital, wondering why some journalists go public without confirming or crosschecking their facts.

He noted that the report was a misrepresentation of facts, saying the government did not shut down their activities because of backlog of compensations owed them but that the small Three Cadastral Unit which is a lithium mining site in Nasarawa local government area within Ganfeng Lithium Industry Limited’s Mining Lease area was the one suspended due to contention among some mining companies on who should continue excavation on the site.

Kelvin Dai said In response to the government’s call, Ganfeng Lithium Industry Limited had already paid 30% of that compensation, adding that the refusal of Lideal Mines Limited to attend the reconciliatory meeting and non payment of compensation requested by the State government as well as its continuous mining without licence in the area with more than 45,000 metric tons of minerals illegally taken from Ganfeng Lithium Industry Limited’s Mining Lease area had made the Nasarawa state government to put the company on its black list.

He maintained that the state and Federal governments had already informed Ganfeng Lithium Industry Limited to resume their mining activities in the area without any dispute, adding that Ganfeng Lithium Industry Limited currently owns the biggest Lithium factory in Ogun state, Nigeria and has advanced plans to build a Mega factory in Nasarawa State which will be six times bigger than their existing factory in Ogun state and it will be the biggest lithium factory in Africa, capable of processing six million metric tons per year, as the ground breaking ceremony is scheduled to take place in October this year.

According to the Ganfeng Managing Director, the issues bothering on the Three Cadestral Unit is being resolved by the government, just as he appreciated Governor Abdullahi Sule and his deputy, Dr. Emmanuel Akabe for their wisdom and magnanimity in ensuring their return to site for continuation of lithium exploration.

The Chinese investor equally expressed readiness of his company to partner the Nasarawa state Government in boosting the mining sector for enhanced revenue generation, calling on media professionals to always be objective in their reportage and avoid sentiments while writing their news reports for print or electronic media.

Mr. Dai noted that he respects the laws of his host state and country, reaffirming that his company will not be party to any illegality involving mining in the state.