The Nigeria Mining Cadastre Office, on Monday, said Dangote Group of Companies and six foreign mining companies would commence mining of gold, iron-ore, coal, lead and zinc in 2015.
The Director-General of the Office, Mr. Mohammed Amate, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
Amate said the companies were Kogi Mines Ltd, Segilola Nig. Ltd and Mines Geotechniques Nig. Ltd.
Others are Northern Numero Resources Ltd, West African Polaris Investment Ltd. and Tongyi Allied and Mineral Services Ltd.
He said Kogi Mines, an Australian mining company based in Kogi, had concluded exploration programmes, adding that it would commence mining of iron-ore in Agbaja in the state this year.
Amate said the company had completed its four-year exploration and that it had delineated more than 500 million tonnes of iron-ore.
He said Segilola Nig. Ltd would also begin mining of gold in Iperindo area of the IIesha Schist belt of Osun state.
He said Mines Geotechniques Nig. Ltd and Northern Numero Resources Ltd, both Australian companies and would begin mining of gold this year in Kebbi.
Amate said the federal government had last year signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the companies to commence mining in the country.
He disclosed that Dangote would conclude its coal exploration in 2015 and was expected to immediately commence mining of coal in Kogi and Benue States.
He said, Dangote had been working toward commencing coal mining in both states, adding that the company held mining titles covering limestone, coal and gypsum.
The Director-General said the West African Polaris Investment Ltd, a Chinese company, would commence mining of tin and columbite in Nasarawa state, adding that another Chinese company, Tongyi Allied and Mineral Services Ltd, would begin mining of lead/zinc in Wasa, Plateau state.
Amate explained that the two companies would commence major mining operation in various locations in the two states, as they have delineated their reserves.
He further said 169 small-scale mining companies had already begun mining gemstone, gold, lead/zinc, and columbite/tantalite among others across the country.
Amate advised the miners to carry out their operations legally, pay their fees promptly to the government as well as reclaim mines sites after activities, as provided by the law.
He also warned miners not to discharge any harmful materials into any environment that could pose danger to lives. (NAN)
