The Federal Ministry of Power and the Chinese Ministry of Ecology and Environment oversaw the signing of an agreement on Friday for a Chinese firm to build a $150 million lithium-ion battery manufacturing plant in Nigeria.
According to a statement published by the Rural Electrification Agency in Abuja on Friday, the agreement was signed in Dubai at the United Nations Climate Conference, better known as COP28.
The statement read in part, “The Rural Electrification Agency of Nigeria and the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure are poised to make a significant stride in climate action by signing a groundbreaking cooperation agreement with the SHENZEN LEMI Technology Development Company.
“The agreement was signed on December 8, 2023, under the leadership of the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Power and the China Ministry of Ecology and Environment.
“The partnership will facilitate the establishment of a lithium-ion battery manufacturing and processing factory in Nigeria. This initiative is backed by a $150 million investment from LEMI, with operations scheduled to commence in phases, starting from the second quarter of 2024.”
According to the REA, the Chinese Ministry of Ecology and Environment, in partnership with the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Power, showed eagerness to be a part of the accord.
“The signing of the cooperation agreement is anticipated to serve as a pioneer initiative for the Light and Belt Initiative in Africa, aligning with global efforts to drive climate technology development and transfer.
“This collaboration will strengthen NASENI’s mandate under the agency’s new leadership to manage the research and development of capital goods, production, and reverse engineering to enhance local mass production of standard parts and services for the nation’s technological advancement, with a special focus on the Nigerian electricity sector.
“Furthermore, the collaboration underscores REA’s commitment to bridging the climate technology gap and combating the adverse effects of climate change.
“It also aligns with Nigeria’s ambitious goals of achieving universal electricity access by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2060,” the agency stated.
According to the REA, the Chinese Ministry of Ecology and Environment, in partnership with the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Power, showed eagerness to be a part of the accord.
“Recognizing the crucial role of energy storage in the transition to renewable energy sources, the investment in lithium-ion energy storage manufacturing signifies a significant step towards achieving a low-carbon economy,” the REA stated.
