By Olufadi Halima
The Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) has opened discussions with Greenfield Metals Ltd. on a proposed collaboration to establish a lead-zinc beneficiation plant, signaling a major step toward strengthening Nigeria’s mineral processing capacity and boosting value addition in the solid minerals sector. Top management of Greenfield Metals Ltd., a lead-zinc mining company operating in Ebonyi State since 2011, paid a courtesy visit to the Director General/CEO of RMRDC, Prof. Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso, on Thursday, January 15, 2026, at the Council’s headquarters in Abuja. The visit builds on an earlier technical session held on December 15, 2025, involving RMRDC’s in-house and joint committee members to evaluate key technical, financial, and operational elements of the proposed project.
During the meeting, the Managing Director of Greenfield Metals, Mr. Henry Ahanota highlighted the company’s current output levels and mineral reserves. He explained that the firm operates both underground and open-cast mining, producing between 50–100 tons daily, with an existing stockpile of about 50,000 metric tonnes of low-grade lead-zinc ore (4–8%). Preliminary data, he added, indicates over one million tonnes of higher-grade ore ranging between 10–50%. Ahanota stated that establishing a beneficiation plant would significantly enhance processing speed, mineral recovery, and overall productivity. He described RMRDC as a “one-stop shop for beneficiation,” citing the Council’s technical expertise and institutional experience in mineral materials development.
Responding, the Director, Mineral Materials Development Department (MMDD) at RMRDC, Dr. Deborah Ashigye acknowledged that the financial implications of establishing such a plant are substantial. However, she assured the company that RMRDC was well positioned to provide technical advisory services and expert consultancy to guide the project.
The project consultant, Engr. Emmanuel Iliya Kwaya, emphasized that the Council can offer “technical backstopping” through knowledge sharing and facilitation of access to financial partners such as the Bank of Industry (BOI) and the African Development Bank (AfDB) to help mitigate financial constraints. Also speaking, the Director, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Department, Mr. Abubakar Kollere commended Greenfield Metals for its operations, noting Ebonyi State’s prominence in Nigeria’s mining landscape. He endorsed the technical partnership strategy and encouraged leveraging RMRDC’s existing relationships with BOI, AfDB, and NEXIM Bank. He further recommended the inclusion of Deputy Director, Plant and Equipment Maintenance Division (PEMD) Engr. Obassi Ettu, a mineral processing engineer on the technical committee to deepen expert input.
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In his remarks, the Director General/CEO of RMRDC, Prof. Ike-Muonso praised the initiative and affirmed the Council’s readiness to support the company with technology advisory, financial linkages, and improved technical processes. He encouraged the committee to evaluate existing beneficiation plants and explore locally adaptable designs, noting that domestic fabrication, though sometimes challenging, can be improved to meet required standards. He stressed the importance of defining clear roles for both parties and directed that RMRDC personnel be integrated into the project for hands-on learning and capacity building. Prof. Ike-Muonso assured Greenfield Metals that the partnership would deliver tangible value, strengthen the company’s operational efficiency, and open new opportunities for accessing broader markets and resources.
