Hasetins Breaks Ground on Rare‑Earth Processing Plant

Hasetins has begun construction on a $400 million, 12,000 tonnes-per-annum rare earth and critical metal processing plant in Nasarawa State, Nigeria.

The facility will refine a mix of company-mined material and supplementary feedstock sourced from artisanal miners, with programs to provide training, equipment and a reliable market to local producers. Processing will target rare earth elements and critical metals cited for technology applications, including platinum, uranium and chromium.

Designed to support value addition locally, the plant aims to supply materials for renewable energy systems, electric vehicles, consumer electronics and defense technologies while promoting beneficiation, smelting and refining within Nigeria rather than exporting raw ores.

State and federal officials hailed the project for its potential to catalyze high-technology manufacturing, create thousands of direct and indirect jobs across skills levels, and transfer processing expertise. Government leaders emphasized regulatory support for safety, occupational standards and initiatives that prioritize women and youth in the mining value chain.

Hasetins’ leadership described the groundbreaking as a milestone for industrialisation, sustainability and workforce development, pledging to pursue responsible environmental practices and to integrate the new plant into regional supply chains for critical minerals.