In a bid to halt the importation of barite and encourage its local production, the Federal Government has commissioned a barite processing plant in Cross River State. The inauguration of the facility was announced by the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Olamilekan Adegbite.
Speaking at the event, Adegbite noted that the plant’s location in Ugaga, Cross River State, was strategic due to the vast reserves of barite in the area. He stated that the plant’s proximity to Port Harcourt in Rivers State, where the processed mineral is needed for oil exploration, was in line with the country’s policy of promoting local content and value addition.
According to Adegbite, the location of the new facility would allow for easy access for artisanal and small-scale barite miners in the area. The plant would process the barite to international API standards, making it a valuable export commodity that could generate foreign exchange for the country.
Nigeria currently imports barite, which is used to prevent oil explosions in the gas and oil drilling industry. However, in October 2021, the Federal Government launched a made-in-Nigeria barite to address this issue and reduce the country’s foreign exchange expenditure. At the launch, the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board announced that imported barites would be banned in the oil and gas industry from 2022.
Although the ban has yet to take effect, the establishment of the processing plant is another step towards encouraging the use of locally produced barite in the country. Investors are expected to vie for Nigeria’s over 20 million metric tons of barite reserves, with the government working with TotalEnergies to mine the reserves. Professional bodies such as the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists and universities offering petroleum engineering in states with barite reserves are also involved in the project.
