The Director General of the National Steel Raw Materials Exploration Agency (NSRMEA), Kolawole Ogunbiyi has said that the Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited needs two million tons of iron ore to operate.
Speaking when the Minister of State for Steel Development, Alhaji Uba Maigari Ahmadu paid a familiarisation visit to the agency yesterday, he said there is need for more investment in the mining of iron ore in order to have sustainable supply to steel industries across the country.
He then emphasised the need for the government to provide special intervention fund to complete the Obi Coal project noting, “Once completed, Obi Lafiya Semi Cooking Coal project will reduce importation of cooking coal.”
Highlighting some strategic plans for sustainable supply of steel raw materials, he said, “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.”
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Responding, the minister assured of adequate investment in research and development as well as foster partnerships and encourage a thriving ecosystem for sustainable development of the nation’s mineral resources.
The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr. Mary Ogbe while assuring of government’s political will to make the railway system to work noted that the nation’s railway system cannot work if the steel industries do not work.
