NASENI seeks domestic production of lithium batteries in Nigeria
By Patience Ikpeme
The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) is urging investors to collaborate with it in the local production and domestication of lithium batteries and other renewable energy solutions.
NASENI’s Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, Dr. Bashir Gwandu, expressed the agency’s readiness to partner with international companies interested in setting up industries in Nigeria to produce renewable energy solutions, electric vehicle parts, and other capital goods.
He emphasized that Nigeria has the necessary raw materials, including phosphate, and should not continue to export raw lithium if other countries have already progressed to lithium processing.
This collaboration he said will create job opportunities and reduce Nigeria’s reliance on foreign goods, which puts pressure on the country’s foreign exchange reserves.
Dr. Gwandu stated that NASENI is already involved in solar panel production and plans to attract solar cell manufacturing to complement its existing work.
The agency has been in discussions with companies worldwide to explore partnerships for the local production of lithium-based products in Nigeria, rather than exporting raw materials for processing.
Furthermore, NASENI is working with the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) to encourage the development and production of electric vehicles, as well as the conversion of existing vehicles to electric ones.
The agency is also discussing the promotion of electric vehicle charging stations along major roads across the country with various stakeholders.
Dr. Gwandu emphasized that NASENI will welcome companies interested in local production as well as provide support to ensure a conducive investment environment.
In particular, he maintained that the agency is open to partnering with companies that are willing to establish factories in Nigeria for the production of lithium batteries.
Safety and environmental regulations will be followed in such collaborations, and NASENI will work closely with companies like LEMI Technology from China to ensure the safe and environmentally friendly production of lithium-based batteries.
The founder of LEMI Technology, Ms. Joyce Chen, expressed her company’s readiness to partner with NASENI and invest in Nigeria, highlighting the longstanding brotherhood between Nigeria and China.
LEMI Technology has been operating in the Nigerian market since 2018, providing job opportunities and selling renewable energy products to thousands of Nigerian households.
