On April 23, 2024, Vanguard News paper , published a story with the headline FG set to commission Nigeria’s largest Lithium Processing Plant in Nasarawa, a month later, on May 10, 2024, Business Day, Daily Post published a story with the headline ‘Nigeria’s Largest Lithium plant Unveiled in Nigeria’.
The lithium plant is said to have the capacity to produce about 4,000 metric tons and it is situated in Nasarawa State.
Also, reports claim it was built by A Chinese company, Avatar New Energy Materials Company limited.
In fact, Channels Television also published on YouTube a report on the inauguration of the power plant in Nasarawa State, as the first Lithium plant in Nigeria.
A search on Google for Lithium plants in Nigeria turned out no other result apart from the plant in Nasarawa.
A further search using Google alerts (screen shot) showed on February 21, 2023, It says the first Lithium processing plant was built in Kaduna State by a Chinese company Xin Mineral separation limited.
Also on October 13, 2023, Muggle Head Magazine posted that a Chinese company Ganfeng Lithium inaugurated its first Lithium plant in Nigeria approximately valued at $250 million in Nasarawa State, while Punch News Paper reported the story as FG backs $250m Nasarawa lithium battery factory.
Meanwhile the Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Uba Sani on his verified X handle posted a tweet on May 11, 2023, about the commissioning of the Min Xin Mineral separation Lithium Plant in Kaduna State.
Also, another X user @opeBee posted about the giant investment strides of Nasarawa State government and the Kaduna State government as regards Lithium plants in both states
Conclusion
Findings shows that as at the time of carrying out this fact checking on Avatar New Energy Materials Company Limited Lithium plant in Nasarawa State is not the first lithium plant as reported by channels TV, because as at May 11, 2023, Kaduna State governor posted on X about the Min Xin Lithium Plant before the Avatar Plant was inaugurated.
As regards the claims of the Avatar Company Lithium Plant being the biggest in Nigeria, from available information, Nasarawa Lithium Plant has 4000 metric tons capacity daily, while Min Xin, according to the governor of Kaduna State, has the capacity to produce 1500 metric tons. It is therefore safe to say that Nasarawa Lithium plant, in terms of production capacity, is the biggest in Nigeria from available data.
