Nigeria’s Local Mineral Beneficiation Requirement

Policy Details

What Changes

Minerals must be processed/refined domestically before export, rather than shipped as raw ore

Why It Matters

The Diamond New Energy plant is publicly cited by the Ministry as "the first working demonstration" of this rule actually functioning — it's the policy made physical, not just a stated intention

Expected Impact

Ministry attributes more than $800 million in mineral-processing investment nationwide to the reform; Chinese investors alone are cited as having committed roughly $1.3 billion to Nigerian lithium processing capacity between 2023 and 2025. Solid minerals sector revenue reportedly rose from ~₦6 billion to over ₦38 billion by end of 2024, credited to tighter regulation and licensing reform.

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