The Chinese investors shaping Nigeria’s lithium-processing boom

In northern Nigeria, Chinese investors are building multi-million-dollar lithium-processing plants amid a boom driven by rising demand for a mineral critical to the production of batteries for electric vehicles and energy-storage systems.

President Bola Tinubu’s administration said it attracted more than $1.3bn in lithium-processing investment between 2023 and 2025. It described a $600m facility in Nasarawa State as “a game-changer for the battery-minerals value chain”.

In its 2023–2024 mining sector performance and production growth summary, the ministry of solid minerals development said lithium royalties more than tripled, reflecting rising demand for critical minerals.

The development aligns with the country’s push to move away from raw-material exports towards domestic processing and value addition.

Abdullahi Sule, the governor of Nasarawa State, which is emerging as Nigeria’s lithium-processing hub, said in August that the sector had created more than 5,000 jobs since the first plant began operations in May 2024.

At the heart of the investment wave are Chinese company founders, chairmen, executives and shareholders, some of whom operate through partnerships with state governments.

Here are some of the key investors and companies shaping Nigeria’s lithium-processing industry.

1. Hi Yongwei: Avatar New Energy Materials

Hi Yongwei is chairman of Avatar New Energy Materials Company Limited, which built Nigeria’s first large-scale lithium-processing plant in Nasarawa State.

President Tinubu, represented at the ceremony by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, inaugurated the plant, which has a processing capacity of 4,000 tonnes per day, in May 2024.

In June 2024, the firm’s chief executive, Josh Zhu, announced plans to build a second plant in the Udege region of the state.

According to the Nasarawa governor, the investment was worth $500m. He added that Avatar was happy to have “seen enough potential to mine lithium in the region for the next 15 to 20 years”.

2. Zhenhua Pei: Canmax Technologies Limited

Chinese businessman Zhenhua Pei is chairman of Canmax Technologies Limited, which is involved in a $250m lithium-processing project in Nasarawa State, in collaboration with Jiangxi Jiuling Lithium Company Limited and the state government.

Vice-President Kashim Shettima, acting on behalf of President Tinubu, inaugurated the Diamond New Energy project in July 2026. The facility, managed by Yu Chongqiang, has a processing capacity of 6,000 tonnes per day and is projected to create 1,000 direct and 2,000 indirect jobs.

3. Wei Xuchun: Jiangxi Jiuling Lithium

Wei Xuchun is the founder of Jiangxi Jiuling Lithium Company Limited. In addition to its involvement in the $250m Diamond New Energy project in Nasarawa, Jiangxi Jiuling is associated with a $600m lithium-processing project near the boundary between Kaduna and Niger states.

Members of Wei’s family are closely involved in the company’s ownership and management. His son, Wei Dongdong, holds a senior management role, while his daughter-in-law, Pan Rui, is also reported to share control of the business.

In Nigeria, Xiong Jin is the company’s managing director and representative.

4. Shuai Fangwen and Cao Zaiyun: Er-Kang Company Limited

Chinese business partners Shuai Fangwen and Cao Zaiyun are co-founders of Er-Kang Company Limited, which invested $20m in a lithium-processing plant in Kwara State in 2024.

The company also committed a further $15m to pharmaceutical investments. Its Nigerian operations are overseen by Sun Qing Rong, who serves as managing director.

5. Pan Quen: Ganfeng Lithium Industry Limited

Pan Quen is president of Ganfeng Lithium Industry Limited, which inaugurated a $250m lithium-battery factory in the Endo area of Nasarawa State in October 2023.

Speaking at the ceremony attended by Solid Minerals Development Minister Dele Alake, Quen said the plant has a processing capacity of 18,000 tonnes of lithium per day, equivalent to 4.5 million tonnes per year.

According to him, the plant would create 2,500 direct jobs and more than 15,000 indirect jobs.

6. Chang Jiang-Yu: Ganfeng Mining Company

Jiang-Yu is the chief executive officer of Ganfeng Mining Company. In June 2024, the company signed an agreement with the Nasarawa State government for the second phase of its lithium-processing plant.

Jiang-Yu said the company was committed to investing in schools, clinics, hospitals and boreholes as part of its corporate social responsibility programme.

7. Ming Xin Mineral Separation

In May 2024, Ming Xin Mineral Separation, in collaboration with the Kaduna State government, inaugurated a $20m lithium-processing plant in Kangimi, within the Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

The joint venture project had an initial processing capacity of 1,500 metric tonnes of lithium per day.

Ming Xin Mineral Separation’s shareholders and directors include Xue Li Wei, Weng Feng Deng and Honghai Yang. Dauda Abbas is also listed as a shareholder, a director and the company secretary.
(The Africa Report)