Ukatu

The Non-Mettallic Mineral Products Sectoral Group of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has partnered the Raw Material Research and Development Council (RMRDC) on how to source rawmaterials locally to boost production.

The MAN Sectoral Chairman, Mr Afam Mallinson Ukatu, who wears double cap as the MD/CEO, NISPO Porcelain Company Limited disclosed that the partnership was recently sealed during a meeting with RMRDC in Lagos.

He stated that sourcing alternative raw materials for the sector was part of the partnership.

His words: “The decision was necessary, given the paucity foreign exchange, difficulties experienced at the port, high cost of foreign rawmaterials and the fluctuating value of the naira with the recent soar in inflation rate.

“Non-Metallic and Mineral Products Sectoral Group of MAN consists of industries that produce Glass, Cement, Ceramic, Chalk, Crayon, Lime and other allied products.

“The sector has experienced a quantum leap in its activities in the last five years thereby contributing significantly to the diversification of the economy which is in-line with the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) initiative of the government.”

The chairman said that it was gratifying to note that the sub-sectors such as the Cement, Glass, Ceramics have recorded huge improvements leading to significant contribution to the national GDP in the last 3-5years.

He however decried the restraints posed by the COVID-19 pandemic on the sector, adding that scarcity of FOREX gave rise to acute shortage of rawmaterials as well as intermediate inputs.

According to him, “It was in this regard that the sector unanimously agreed to look inward and source their raw materials locally. And as such, acknowledged RMRDC as the appropriate agency to handle this issue, owing to the pre-existing relationship with MAN and previous research efforts in ensuring ease of sourcing raw materials for cement, ceramic and glass products in Nigeria.”

In his presentation, titled, “The efforts of RMRDC in the development of raw materials for the Non-metallic Minerals sector with reference to cement, ceramics and glass,” the Director, PPDD, RMRDC, disclosed various locations of some of the major raw materials that are used in the non-metallic and mineral products sector.

He said that most breakthroughs of RMRDC in the non-metallic minerals sector include, “Development of scrubber for the beneficiation of gypsum in the cement industry. The equipment which was test-run and met the specification of 85-90% purity, a standard required by cement and POP industries.

“This has ensured import substitution of POP by 15-20%. Physico-chemical characterization of limestone deposits across the country, which has revealed the suitability of high quality marble/limestone for the production of cement, powder filler for paper, rubber, paint, calcium carbon, e,tc.

“Development of calciner to produce calcined kaolin with capacity of 10 tonnes. This has been patented and a pilot plant has been installed at RMRDC model demonstration center, NASREA, Abuja. Establishment of pharmaceutical grade kaolin plant at Kankara, Katsina State and industrial grade kaolin plant located in Gwarzo, Kano State; both of which has catalyzed the proliferation of many cottage level kaolin processing plants in Katsina and Kano State. Development of high and low temperature ceramic glazes from locally available raw materials and technical and economic feasibility studies of local production of glaze.

“Collaboration with Niger state government to establish a processed talc catalytic model factory at Kagara, with most of the equipment being locally fabricated; which has the capacity of 3000 tonnes a year of processed talc. Collaboration with Sheda Science and Technology Complex (SHESTCO) to process talc ore from Kagara, Niger state and Isanlu, Kogi state into cosmetics grade talc that met the requirements of cosmetics industry. Establishment of soda ash plant for production through trona method, and production of feasibility study report on the establishment of soda ash production plant by synthetic method. Collaboration with Sheda Science and Technology Complex (SHESTCO) to develop process technology for the production of sodium silicate from rice husk; and production of analytical grade chemicals and reagents such as copper sulphate, ferrous sulphate, ammonium sulphate, amongst others.”