In a bid to reposition the Minerals and Steel Sector for the socio – economic development of the nation, the Federal Government has expressed its readiness to operationalise the National Iron Ore Mining Company (NIOMCO) and the Steel Sector.

The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Mrs. Diezani Alison – Madueke made this declaration while on a facility inspection visit to the National Iron Ore Mining Company, Itakpe, Kogi State.

According to her “It is necessary for us to look at the ways and means to operationalise some of these assets at least in the medium term up to a certain level to contribute to the nation’s economic growth”.

The Minister added that her facility inspection trip to the National Iron Ore Mining Company was informed on the need to have a firsthand information of the situation in the company, stressing that, the trip afforded her the opportunity to see that every bit of materials in the process of the production of Iron Ore can be used for one purpose or the other in the building and construction industry.

Mrs. Alison – Madueke said that expedient plans were being put in place by the Federal Government at restructuring the National Iron Ore Mining Company for optimal performance.

She declared that Federal Government was also working proactively on the options for restructuring the steel plants as well as payment of the salary arrears owed staffers of the National Iron Ore Company,Itakpe.

The Minister explained that the payment of the workers’ salary arrears was not included in the 2009 budget of the Ministry. However, she assured that fund would be sourced to settle the payment of salary arrears and allowances owed the staffers of the National Iron Ore Mining Company, Itakpe.

The Minister who commended the workers for their patience urged them to continue to maintain peace and orderliness, assuring that, she would continue to work very hard until the issues at stake were resolved.

While answering questions from newsmen, the Minister said that eleven strategic coal clusters had been identified  in  our coal belts  in Enugu, Benue and Kogi States to generate electricity of at least 600 mega watts through turbines    over the next 20 – 30  months and beyond  under the  Independent Power Project (IPP) .

Mrs. Alison – Madueke who enlisted the collaboration of other stakeholders such as the Transmission Company, Power Holding Company of Nigeria and Ministry of Power said that such collaboration would facilitate the setting up of those pilot projects of Coal to power that would give Nigeria the right output of about 600 mega watts in the next 30 months compared to what is obtained through the National Grid.

She noted that most developed and developing countries depend on higher percentage of Coal to power as one of their  diversifying energy sources, citing  that, the United States of America has 50 percent  of its energy needs augmented through  Coal to power.

Earlier in his remark, Chief Operating Officer of the National Iron Ore Mining Company, Chief Liwhu– Akeh said that about 500,000 tonnes of Iron Ore concentrates   was produced per annum by the company   for onward supply to Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited.

Chief Akeh who commended the Minister for her visit to the company said that the workers were hopeful that the visit would yield positive results in resuscitating the company.