West Africa’s Largest Lithium Plant Starts Operation with NMS Support

Recently, the largest lithium processing plant in West Africa officially commenced operation in Nasarawa State, Nigeria. Nigeria’s Vice President Kashim Shettima, representing President Bola Tinubu, attended the commissioning ceremony. The project marks a significant step in Nigeria’s transition from exporting raw materials to developing higher-value mineral processing industries. As the project’s core equipment supplier and engineering service provider, NMS delivered a comprehensive solution covering equipment supply, steel structure installation, and system commissioning.

The plant was invested in by Diamond New Energy Group, jointly controlled by Jiangxi Jiuling Lithium Co., Ltd. and Suzhou Tianhua New Energy Co., Ltd. With a processing capacity of 6,000 tonnes of lithium ore per day and a total investment of approximately USD 250 million, the facility represents a major milestone for Nigeria’s lithium industry. NMS supplied the complete set of primary process equipment, including JC Jaw Crushers, CC Cone Crushers, NFS Flip-Flow Screens, and HPF Grizzly Feeders. Meanwhile, its subsidiary, Jiangxi NMS Engineering Technology Co., Ltd., undertook the complete engineering scope, including equipment installation and commissioning, steel structure and electrical system construction, as well as the turnkey delivery of the primary crushing workshop, conveying system, and central control room.The crushing system efficiently reduces run-of-mine ore from up to 700 mm to a final product size below 8 mm.

Wang Huidong, Project Manager of Jiangxi NMS Engineering Technology Co., Ltd., explained that the project faced an extremely demanding schedule—completing the installation and commissioning of more than 1,100 tonnes of equipment, steel structures, and electrical systems within 70 days. The team also had to overcome local challenges, including limited crane capacity, insufficient lifting equipment, and aging machinery. To address these issues, the project team introduced 3D visualization technology to digitally simulate the entire installation process, effectively resolving the complexity and coordination challenges associated with non-standard steel structures. A modular pre-assembly approach shifted much of the high-altitude work to precise ground-level assembly, while a relay transportation strategy enabled efficient coordination across multiple work fronts for large equipment requiring sectional lifting. At the same time, the team adopted a commissioning-first approach, conducting preliminary testing immediately after each unit was completed and combining remote diagnostics with real-time support from the technical team in China. This significantly reduced troubleshooting time. Despite challenges including high temperatures and logistics delays, the project completed commissioning four days ahead of schedule and successfully entered trial production. The stability and processing performance of the equipment received high recognition from the project owner.

In his speech, Vice President Kashim Shettima stated that the project aligns with the Federal Government’s strategy of positioning the solid minerals sector as a key driver of economic diversification, job creation, and export growth. He noted that the investment reflects growing investor confidence in Nigeria’s economic reforms. While Nigeria possesses abundant mineral resources, he emphasized that sustainable prosperity can only be achieved by investing in mineral processing, manufacturing, and industrial development rather than relying solely on raw material exports. Industrial investments such as the Nasarawa lithium processing plant will strengthen local industrial development, promote skills transfer, and enhance Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global critical minerals value chain.

The successful completion of this project once again demonstrates NMS’s capabilities in equipment supply and integrated engineering services for complex overseas projects, while adding another successful example of Chinese high-end mining equipment supporting industrial development along the Belt and Road Initiative. Looking ahead, NMS will continue expanding its presence in key mining markets across Africa, South America, and beyond, providing high-quality, integrated solutions that create greater value for customers worldwide.