United Kingdom (UK) has made known plans to build a $5m battery recycling company in Ogun State.
Gatekeepers News reports that British High Commissioner in Nigeria, Richard Montgomery disclosed this when he led some officials of the commission on a courtesy visit to Dapo Abiodun, Ogun state Governor, in Abeokuta.
Montgomery said when operational, the company would be the best in Africa, adding that the investment would be about $5 million.
The British High Commissioner said the commission wants Ogun “to be the place where this industry can grow”.
He continued, “My brief visit to this state is about the deal put together for recycling, which is moving out of Lagos State and establishing a new plant here for recycling e-waste.”
“The Ogun Invest and the Commissioner for Lands are working to ensure the deal comes off the line, and I am glad to be here to join the final conversation. I think that will bring new technology and new jobs to the State.”
“The battery we will be manufacturing in Ogun State will be the first of its kind in Africa, and we will make the State the leader in battery recycling in Africa.”
“For the first time, it is now possible to recycle the cell back into chemical form in Africa and export the black mass, which contains the minerals inside the battery, to make new batteries.”
“It is really exciting that we received support from Ogun Invest, and officials from the Bureau of Lands confirmed the Certificate of Occupation.”
Montgomery noted that the visit was partly to review the progress made in the country and how Ogun state has fared in terms of infrastructure and creating a conducive environment for businesses.
The envoy further said the British International Investment, a financial development institution, has invested in one of the major cashew processing and export companies in the state.
He emphasised that United Kingdom is ready to offer technical assistance to the state’s mass transit system, which is currently being tested.
Replying to the proposal, Governor Abiodun said Ogun has a large expanse of land suitable for the cultivation of food and cash crops, as well as large deposits of limestone and other minerals.
He noted that the state is home to numerous manufacturing companies and has the biggest industrial park due to gas pipelines from Niger Delta that transverse the length and breadth of the state.
The Governor stated that the deliberate provision of road infrastructure and other amenities was to attract more investments to impact the lives of the people.
