The Director-General, National Steel Raw Materials Exploration Agency (NSRMEA), Kolawole Ogunbiyi, says the Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited needs two million tons of iron ore to operate.
He made the observation when the Minister of State for Steel Development, Alhaji Uba Maigari Ahmadu, paid a familiarisation visit to the agency on Tuesday.
According to him, to have a sustainable supply to steel industries across the country, there is a need for more investment in the mining of iron ore.
He stressed the need for the government to provide special intervention funds to complete the Obi Coal project, noting that once completed, the Obi Lafiya Semi-Cooking Coal project would reduce the importation of cooking coal.
“The acquisition of crawler-mounted diamond core drilling rigs, heavy duty field vehicles (bulldozers) and field laboratory equipment will go a long way in increasing the supply of iron ore in the country,” he emphasized while highlighting some strategic plans for sustainable supply of steel raw materials.
The minister, while responding, assured of adequate investment in research and development as well as fostering partnerships and encouraging a thriving ecosystem for sustainable development of the nation’s mineral resources.
Dr. Mary Ogbe, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, noted that the nation’s railway system cannot work if the steel industries do not work while assuring the government’s political will to make the railway system work.
Ajaokuta needs two million tons of iron ore to operate – NSRMEA DG, Ogunbiyi
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