Miners Want FG To Ban Barite Importation

Miners Association of
Nigeria has called on the Federal Government to incorporate Barite mineral on Import Prohibition List.
Aminu Muazu, the chairman, Nasarawa chapter of the association made the call in an interview with newsmen on Monday in Abuja.
Muazu urged the government to prohibit importation of barite to discourage end users from sourcing it outside the country.
He noted that the country has abundant deposit of barite and many local companies were engaged in its mining.
“Barite was on import prohibition list more than 20 years, but it was delisted two years ago.
“The local industries which were buying our barites since 2002 have stopped patronising our product following the delisting order.
“Our products have suffered low patronage and as I speak to you not less than 80, 000 metric tons are currently available without buyers.
“We have the mineral in large quantity and quality and there is no reason why it should be imported.
“There is abundant deposit of barite in Nasarawa, Adamawa, Benue, Cross-River, Taraba, Gombe and Zamfara states.
“ The local consumption of barite per annum is close to 75,000 metric tons and we mine more than 80, 000 metric tons per year,’’ he said.
Muazu explained that barite is used for oil drilling and manufacturing of tyres and pharmaceutical products, among others.
He alleged that the multinational oil companies were importing the mineral in order to siphon foreign currency from the country.
He stressed that barite has  high economy potentials to generate revenue and employment if listed in export list.

Philip Okparaji