Abia To Establish Mining Company Soon

Abia state government plans on establishing a mining company to fully exploit the solid mineral potential of the state. This is expected to enhance its internally generated revenue (IGR).

Floating a mining company was part of the assignments given to the Mineral Resources and Environmental Management Committee (MREMC), which was inaugurated by Governor Okezie Ikpeazu to ensure best practices in the exploitation of the solid minerals deposits in Abia.

The governor noted that the proposed mining company must have prospect for profitability hence the committee was expected to carry out feasibility studies and advise government accordingly.

He gave the committee other terms of reference including setting up a mechanism for the documentation, registration and institutionalisation of solid minerals mining cooperatives in the State.

Ikpeazu also urged the committee “to explore the concept of clustering those cooperatives as part of the philosophy for the strategic economic development of Abia and explore the possibility of partnering with the federal government, other national and international agencies engaged in solid minerals development.”

The eight-man committee was also asked to suggest ways of eliminating illegal mining by documenting and registering illegal miners in Abia state and make any general or specific recommendations “that will allow Abia state government benefit maximally” from development of solid minerals.

Chairman of the committee, Dame Chimechefulam Nwoko, who is also the permanent secretary Abia state ministry of environment and solid minerals, promised that the team would hit the ground running and deliver on the assignment.