In a significant move to advance Nigeria’s renewable energy sector, a high-level Nigerian delegation led by the Chairman of the Presidential Steering Committee on Project Evergreen, Ajuri Ngelale, has visited the global headquarters of CATL, the world’s largest EV battery manufacturer in China.
The delegation included the Executive Governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Sule, and the Managing Director/CEO of the Infrastructure Corporation of Nigeria (InfraCorp), Dr. Lazarus Angbazo.
The visit commenced with an extensive tour of CATL’s facilities, showcasing the company’s history, current operations, and future development plans.
The delegation was given an exclusive, no-photographs-allowed tour of CATL’s automated production lines, highlighting the advanced technology and manufacturing processes that make the company a leader in the EV battery industry.
Following the tour, the Nigerian delegation engaged in detailed discussions with CATL’s executive management.
They provided an update on the progress of Evergreen City, Nigeria’s renewable energy technology manufacturing zone, and outlined potential collaboration opportunities.
CATL executives presented tailored solutions on how their technologies and financing platforms could support the unique needs of Evergreen City.
Governor Abdullahi Sule elaborated on local policies and the sub-national support for the partnership, while Ajuri Ngelale articulated the vision of Evergreen City in alignment with CATL’s technological capabilities.
Dr. Lazarus Angbazo of InfraCorp posed critical questions regarding the proposed collaboration, leading to a consensus on the next steps.
The delegation expressed optimism about the prospects of establishing an EV battery manufacturing hub in Nigeria’s Lithium-rich zone, which would serve prominent clients such as Tesla and BMW.
However, they acknowledged that significant work lies ahead before the partnership can be fully realized.
The Nigerian government will continue to provide updates on the progress of this initiative as it unfolds.
Report by Bello Wakili
