The federal government has said that the company out of outside Nigeria (Alscon) in Ikot Abasi, Akwa Ibom state will soon resume production.
The Minister of Development of Steel, Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu, who discovered the minds of the federal government when he visited the plant, expressed satisfaction with the status of equipment and facilities in the plant despite its closure more than a decade ago.
Audu revealed that the consultations and commitments of the stakeholders are ongoing to resolve the challenges of the gas supply to the plant, the Lescon property fight between BFIG and Rusal, and the dredging of the IMO River.
The minister declared that President Bola Tinubu intends to swear the economy and create in line with the renewed agenda of hope of his administration, hence the urgent need to revive Alscon.
“I think it is very clear that the federal government has invested a significant amount of resources to obtain the plant here first.
“The plant began operations in 1997, operated for about two years, entered a sword and then began producing again from 2008 to 2013.
“It is important to keep in mind that in terms of job creation opportunities, you can create direct and indirect work to the sum of 20,000. This is very significant.
“The current managers of the plant have invested more than 400 million dollars in the plant. This is very critical for the renewed agenda of hope of Mr. President. Mr. President wants to grow the Nigerian economy for a billion dollars in 2030. For that to happen, critical plants and national assets must return on board.
“As you can see, the plant has been closed here for more than a decade and we have massive resources that are wasting. There is a plan for the plant to return in a few years. However, there are initial problems that must be solved.
“As leader of the steel industry and the representative of Mr. President, I am committed to solving the problems, particularly the property struggle between the BFI and Rusal Group. This must be resolved very quickly.
“There is also the problem of the gas supply that must be treated. There is also the problem of the dredging of the Imo River. I have traveled the plant and as a federal government, we will do everything humanly as possible to bring the plant, ”said the minister.
Alscon's managing director Zavlyalov Dmitriy said the company's management was ready to return to the operation when all impediments are resolved.
Dmitriy said that despite the closure of the plant for more than ten years, Rusal has maintained the facilities and equipment in the plant.
He added that Rusal has been consisting of his corporate social responsibility by providing scholarships abroad, training training training and other empowerment programs to the Alscon host community.
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