NASENI, Lemi Foundation Seek Collaboration for Lithium Batteries Production 

Oru Leonard 

The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) says it is seeking investors that would collaborate with the Agency in local production and domestication of Lithium batteries and renewable energy solutions.

A statement signed by Mr Olusegun Ayeoyenikan says the Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of NASENI Dr, Bashir Gwandu said in Abuja that the Agency is ready to partner with international companies that are willing to set up their industries in Nigeria and start local production of renewable energy solutions, electric vehicles parts and other capital goods that could create jobs and foreign exchange for the country.

According to NASENI Director Information and Protocol, Ayeoyenikan, Dr Gwandu who disclosed this while receiving a business delegation from LEMI Technology Shenzhen, China at NASENI headquarters said that “NASENI is already doing a lot in the area of Solar Panel Production” He said the Agency has held meetings with other companies from around the world with a view to seeking partnership on local production of lithium-based end-products in Nigeria as against the normal practice of foreign companies exporting the raw materials outside the country for processing.

According to him, taking some of the visions of NASENI forward, which is domestication of technologies, capital goods production and commercialization in Nigeria, NASENI would help bridge the technological gaps between Nigeria and other countries, help stop importation of these technologies and encourage local production and also stop importation.

“We are giving opportunities to partners to come and establish in Nigeria. This will be more attractive to companies that want to patronize our products. It will also help in domesticating these technologies” he said, while explaining further that “Anything we can produce here will be domesticated. So, we are inviting friends of Nigeria to come here and establish here. We are encouraging those who can come and produce locally. We will give them support and ensure that the investment environment is encouraging”

The NASENI EVC hoped that this call is an opportunity to partners who want to produce in Nigeria to do so. The Federal Government, he disclosed, “would welcome any company who gets to us first”, adding that on the production of Lithium batteries, the Agency was ready to go into partnership with companies that are willing to establish their factories in Nigeria.

Dr. Gwandu suggested that NASENI and LEMI Technology should work out the areas of possible collaborations in the production of the lithium battery and ensure that all the safety and environment regulations are followed.

While emphasizing NASENI’s priority area to be the production of lithium battery and inverters, Dr Gwandu expressed delight in working out a memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with LEMI Technology with a view to ensuring safest means of producing the lithium-based batteries, taking into cognizance Nigeria environmental peculiarities.

In his response, the Chief Executive Officer of LEMI Technology Mr. Xie Feng said Nigeria and China have a brotherhood that spans many years, adding that Nigeria with its teeming population is critical for investment opportunities.

Mr. Feng said LEMI Technology has been operating in the Nigerian market since 2018 and had provided job opportunities to Nigerians and have sold renewable energy products to over 200,000 Nigerian households.

He expressed his company’s willingness to partner with NASENI through MoU on renewable energy with particular reference to products like solar and television panels, inverters and battery production.

LEMI Technology is working with indigenous forces to bridge the electricity gaps amongst people through provision of flexible solar solutions, while ensuring the sustainability and durability of such solutions.

Over the years, LEMI Technology has partnered with the Chinese government, the United Nations, The World Bank, the African Development Bank, the United Nations Development Programme and official government agencies of many countries in Africa, South East Asia, the Middle East including Latin America to reach people who need basic power services.

The LEMI Technology delegation included the founder of LEMI Technology, Ms. Joyce Chen; Chief Investment Officer, Mr. Rocky Hu;
Chief Financial Officer, Ms.Biju Yao; Oversea Business Director, Ms Monica Liang and Engineer : Mr. Lucia Peng.

(News Annex)