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Canada based exploration company launches Nigeria lithium-focused subsidiary as it secures exploration tenure

Thor Explorations Ltd, a Canada-based mineral exploration company with interests in Nigeria, Senegal and Burkina Faso, has launched a Nigerian subsidiary to explore the country’s lithium potential as Africa’s biggest economy seeks to diversify its economy beyond oil and gas. Newstar Minerals Ltd, Thor’s newly formed Nigerian subsidiary, is looking to develop its first large-scale lithium mine in the country. The company has already acquired over 600 kilometres squared of granted tenure covering two known lithium bearing pegmatite deposits and one large unexplored prospective pegmatite-rich belt.   Located in Nigeria’s southwest, the tenure covers West Oyo, Kwara State and Ekiti State lithium project areas. Initial field inspection and selective sampling of key sites have returned significant lithium grades from both hard-rock spodumene and lepidolite mineralisation, the company said. It will also continue to prioritise explorations at Segilola gold mine in Osun State, also in Nigeria. “While gold remains fundamental to our growth strategy, we consider the virtually untapped lithium potential of Nigeria to be an opportunity that is too good to miss,” Chief Executive Officer at Thor Explorations Segun Lawson said in a company statement, adding the company will leverage its established in-country presence, experience and first-mover advantage. “We intend to develop both businesses (gold and lithium) without any shareholder dilution.” In 2021, Thor Explorations poured first gold from its Segilola mine as Nigeria’s first industrial gold project entered production. The company spent nearly $100 million to build the mine. Africa Finance Corp., the company’s largest shareholder, provided an $86 million debt-equity financing package. Thor said the Segilola plant produced 98,006 ounces of gold in 2022, which was its first full calendar year of commercial production. Boosting economic growth with mining Nigeria, Africa’s largest oil producer, has substantial untapped deposits of metals including gold, zinc, lead, iron ore and lithium, but nearly all extraction takes place informally on a small-scale or manual basis. As a result, crude oil sales have continued to account for more than 75% of export earnings, leaving the country vastly reliant on oil. Successive governments have pledged to significantly increase mining’s contribution to gross domestic product, which currently stands at less than 1%. In 2017, the World Bank provided around $150 million to the Nigerian government to develop the mining sector, attract investments and enhance its contribution to the economy. Since then, the mining sector has witnessed some sustained growth in its contribution to the country’s GDP, contributing 0.85% in 2022 haven grown from 0.18% in 2018. Mining made up 4% to 5% of Nigeria’s GDP in the 1960s and 1970s, before major operations shut down and crude oil became the government’s major driver of revenues. The new administration of President Bola Tinubu says he wants to boost Nigeria’s GDP by stimulating the growth of non-oil sectors, giving hopes to the revival of some key sectors, such as mining, that were underperforming.

Lagos launches first electric buses in Nigeria

Lagos has officially launched the pilot programme for the implementation of its electric vehicle (EV) mass transit buses in the Nigerian commercial hub, as it pushes to become a modern-state with investments in green and modern transports. The Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) is partnering with Oando Clean Energy Limited (OECL) to launch the proof-of-concept with two electric buses that will ply the Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) lanes in the state. The mass transit bus, equipped with air conditioning and WIFI, comes with a capacity of 80 passengers for both seating and standing commuters. OECL has taken delivery of some charging stations and spare parts. OECL, a subsidiary of the Nigerian multinational oil company Oando, is teaming up with China’s bus maker Yutong to put 12,000 electric buses on Nigerian roads over the next seven years. The partnership between Oando and Yutong also envisages the construction of a local assembly plant for the electric buses to boost indigenous capacity. Partnerships for sustainable public transport “This is a pivotal moment for Lagos State and the country at large,” CEO at OCEL, Ainojie Irune, said in a statement. “The development of a sustainable transport ecosystem is much more than the deployment of electric vehicles; it’s about reducing the carbon footprint of the seven million public transport commuters and positively impacting the socio-economic indices surrounding transportation. For us at OCEL, Lagos State is only the beginning, we look forward to replicating this model nationwide through strategic partnerships across the public and private sectors.” Lagos State, Africa’s largest city with roughly 30 million people, is expected to save some $2.6 billion in fuel and maintenance costs, as it transits from the current combustion mass transit system to an electric powered scheme. “This is a watershed moment for Yutong,” Managing Director, Yutong West Africa, Frank Lee, said. “It’s our first delivery of electric mass transit buses in Sub-Saharan Africa and the first step in the large-scale deployment of an electric powered public road transport system in Nigeria. I must commend the collaborative efforts of the Lagos State Government through LAMATA in seeing this project through.” Lagos is modernising its logistics infrastructure for urban mobility. Despite delays, the state has made steady progress on its Lagos Rail Mass Transit network currently being developed under the Lagos Strategic Transport Master Plan. The development of the master plan was supported and funded by the World-Bank and notably identified 14 Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridors, six rail lines and one monorail.