Monday, September 29, 2025
23.7 C
Lagos

AFC Partners Solid Minerals Dev Fund on Private Sector-Led Mining Projects in Nigeria

 

 
Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), the continent’s leading infrastructure solutions provider, and the Solid Minerals Development Fund (SMDF) are partnering to deploy project development funding and technical advisory to fast-track closure and operations of commercial scale mining projects in Nigeria. This follows AFC’s flagship investment in the first commercial scale gold mining project in Nigeria, the Segilola Gold Mine in Osun State, through an innovative financing package comprised of debt, equity and a stream.
Challenges around development and finance mean that only a fraction of over $700 billion of potential Nigerian mining projects receives the necessary funding, according to SMDF.

Under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and leveraging AFCs project development expertise, AFC and SMDF will co-develop mining projects to mitigate risks that would otherwise have prevented financing to drive bankability. This intervention will create a pipeline of high-quality and feasible projects with considerable economic impact and scope for AFC and SMDF to deploy their balance sheets.
Since 2014, AFC has deployed $900+million from its balance sheet and mobilized US$250 million in Mining Projects across Africa in several minerals critical for the energy transition, including bauxite, manganese and copper.

As such, the alliance will focus primarily on precious metals and minerals critical to the global energy transition. AFC and SMDF will combine their own funds with innovative investment tools to reduce risks around exploration, drilling, confirmation of deposits, and third-party development costs, including technical and environmental studies, project structuring, and project contract negotiations. Only projects that have completed phases of pre-feasibility studies and secured all relevant government and regulatory permits are eligible for consideration.

The partnership aligns with AFC’s mission to foster industrial development, unlock value from natural resources, and catalyze significant long-term growth and diversification opportunities. It also advances SMDF’s 2025 Strategy to build investment partnerships that will spur private sector-led investment in the mining sector and position Nigeria as a leading emerging mining destination.
“AFC is a premier investor in Nigeria’s mining sector, a top priority for the Federal Government to attract Foreign Direct Investment and drive diversification of the economy. This partnership with the SMDF will enable the Corporation to continue to drive the closure of bankable mining projects that are critical to Africa’s economic diversification efforts, value addition and the energy transition” said Sameh Shenouda, Executive Director and Chief Investment Officer, Africa Finance Corporation.

“We are delighted to work with an institution of such high repute, particularly one in our host country, Nigeria.”
Fatima Umaru Shinkafi, Executive Secretary and CEO of Solid Minerals Development Fund, said: 

We are pleased to sign this agreement with the Africa Finance Corporation today, signifying AFC’s commitment to driving sustainable economic growth through economic diversification and industrialisation. This agreement is a significant step for SMDF as we develop the mining sector in Nigeria and position the country as a stable and low-cost supplier of critical minerals. Africa Finance Corporation led the financing of the only commercial mine in Nigeria so, naturally, we see a key opportunity to combine AFC’s investment track record with the SMDF’s technical talent, intellectual capital, and deep sector knowledge and expertise on growth-oriented projects, where our collaboration can help create value.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
 
spot_img
spot_img

Hot this week

AIICO Deepens Bond with Retirees, Holds Annuity Forum in Lagos, PH

Mr. Gbenga Ilori, Head, Retail Business at AIICO, in...

Sovereign Trust Insurance Holds 30th AGM

L-R: Eric Balogun, Independent Director, Emi Faloughi, Director, Kayode Adigun,...

Unity Bank Shareholders Approve Merger with Providus Bank

  EGM: From left: Mr. Usman Abdulkadir, Executive Director, Risk...

NNPCL: Ogoni Re-entry is a Beacon of Reconciliation through Collaboration

The re-entry into Ogoniland marks a historic turning point...

NLNG, NCDMB Celebrate 122 Graduates of Train 7 HCD Training Program

NLNG in collaboration with the Nigerian Content Development and...

Topics

North African Airlines Control 45% of Africa’s Air Traffic

According to the latest edition of Secteur Privé &...

Roche, Kenya Partnership to Improve Breast Cancer Care

First Lady Margaret Kenyatta, Kenya Ministry of Health and...

Access Bank Opens Application for Womenpreneur Pitch-a-Ton 2025 Program

L – R: Nene Kunle-Ogunlusi, Group Head, Women Banking; Chozoba...

NIA Chairman, Eddie Efekoha, Elected IoD Fellow

Mr. Eddie Efekoha, Chairman, Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA) is...

South Africa to Host 46th AIO Conference June 8

The Republic of South Africa will host the 46th...

TotalEnergies, Aramco to Build Giant Petrochemical Complex in Saudi Arabia

TotalEnergies and the Saudi Arabian Oil Company (ARAMCO) have...

NGX Group Chair: AI Will Enhance Efficiency in the Nigerian Economy

L-R:  Thaibat Adeniran, former Managing Director, Hilal Takaful Insurance...

Zest: Revolutionising Payment Solutions for African Businesses

African enterprises are rapidly discovering that fragmented payment systems...
spot_img

Related Articles

Popular Categories

spot_imgspot_img