SMDF, OCP Group, sign agreement to develop Nigeria’s phosphate reserves

Nigeria’s Solid Minerals Development Fund, SMDF and Morocco’s OCP Group, yesterday October 9, signed a technical co-operation agreement to mine and develop Nigeria’s phosphate reserves, located in the Sokoto Basin.

Fresh Angle International can report that the agreement is an extension to the Presidential Fertilizer Initiative, PFI.

Hajia Fatima Shinkafi (right) & Mohamed Hettiti, exchanging pleasantries after signing the pact

Executive Secretary of Solid Minerals Development Fund, SMDF, Hajia Fatima Shinkafi and Managing Director, OCP Africa Fertilizers Nigeria Limited, Mohamed Hettiti, reportedly signed the deal on behalf of both parties.

It is expected that, “SMDF and OCP will leverage on their mutual capabilities, technical know-how, engineering capabilities, experience, and make use of the expertise of their longstanding partners to develop Nigeria’s phosphate reserves”.

The Agreement covers the following areas:

·         Technical cooperation in the field of phosphates

·         Support of SMDF effort to develop phosphate mining in Nigeria, and

·         Training and academic exchanges.

The Solid Minerals Development Fund, SMDF, has prioritized phosphate for solid minerals development in Nigeria due to a presence of reserves and the potential for direct application of Nigeria’s reactive phosphate on the country’s acidic soil.

It will be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari, recently directed the Solid Minerals Development Fund, SMDF, to drive the development of Nigeria’s phosphate and potash reserves as an extension of the Presidential Fertilizer Initiative, PFI.

The Solid Minerals Development Fund, SMDF, is a fund established to drive investments in Nigeria’s mining sector.

It was established in 2007 through the 2007 Minerals and Mining Act, but was not operationalized until the President Buhari Administration.

Officials of SMDF & OCP after signing the agreement

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