FG to consolidate, allocate coal sites to power sector players, says Fayemi

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Dr. Kayode Fayemi

The Federal Government said on Monday in Minna that it would consolidate and allocate coal sites across the country to “serious minded players in the power sector” to generate energy.

The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi, disclosed this during a visit to the Abuja Steel Mills Limited, Minna.

According to Fayemi, the ministry is considering the power sector as its priority area that needs coal to address electricity deficit in the country.

“We are not saying that we will not give coal to others that need coals for the production of steel or relevant manufacturing works, but right now power sector needs coal,” he said.

He said that the management of Abuja Steel Mill had requested for coal for the production of steel, adding that the ministry would support local steel manufacturers that could solve steel deficit.

“Our work as a ministry is to facilitate companies that have taken it upon themselves to manufacture steel locally, rather than importing substandard steel with our hard earned Forex.”

He expressed appreciation to the management of the company for employing 450 Nigerians and providing healthcare facilities, adding that the company should train its local engineers to perform or take over its expatriate tasks.

He also urged the company to continue to maintain its standard of production to gain adequate market and bridge steel importation gap.

He said the ministry would encourage the Ministry of Works, Power and Housing to link the company to construction giants in the country to patronise their products.

He promised to liaise with Nigerian Customs Service on scrap metals being exported on a daily basis, as scarcity of the material had hiked prices of steel produced locally.

However, he promised to solve some of the requests presented by the company, adding that it should also fulfill the ministry’s requirements to move the country forward.

Mr Richpal Singh, Executive Director and Advisor of the company, urged the minister to make coal sites available to the company to boost steel production. Singh said availability of coal would enable the company to produce 6.8 million tonnes required for local consumption.

He said the scrap metals being sold at the rate of N50,000 per tonne now sold at N250,000, as the materials were being exported due to high exchange rate.

He said one of the company’s challenges was scarcity of scrap metals being used for the production of steel, as Nigerians were now making brisk business with some Chinese firms to package and export them. The company produces 150,000 tonnes yearly and is currently the highest steel producer in the country.

All the local steel companies in Nigeria are producing 2.5 million tonnes annually and Nigeria requires 6.8 tonnes of steel every year. The company is an Indian organisation with other seven subsidiaries in steel, chemical and energy production.

Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2n1zWbx

Niasse double is Hull’s Silva lining

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Hull City's Senegalese striker Oumar Niasse (L) celebrates with Hull City's Uruguayan striker Abel Hernandez after scoring the opening goal of the English Premier League football match between Hull City and Swansea City at the KCOM Stadium in Kingston upon Hull, north east England on March 11, 2017. Paul ELLIS / AFP

Oumar Niasse proved an inspired substitution by Marco Silva as his second-half double boosted Hull’s hopes of retaining their Premier League status with a 2-1 win over fellow strugglers Swansea on Saturday.

Niasse, on loan from Everton, struck in the 69th and 78th minutes to give Hull their third win over Swansea this season — their other win coming in the FA Cup — and saw them rise to third from bottom just a point off Crystal Palace, although the latter have a game in hand.

Swansea — who have lost seven of their last 11 games — remain firmly embroiled in the battle for survival just three points clear of Hull.

Chances were few and far between in a tight opening half hour with just one piece of creative wizardry by Swansea’s playmaker Gylfi Sigurdsson teeing up Wayne Routledge, whose shot was on target but well saved by Eldin Jakupovic.

The visitors dominated the match even though they created little in the way of scoring opportunities — Fernando Llorente being well-marshalled by the Hull defence — but their rhythm was disrupted when Angel Rangel had to go off injured to be replaced by Jordi Amat.

Even worse for the Swans was the sight of Llorente trudging off injured just before the break after coming off worse in a collision with Tom Huddlestone.

Huddlestone scuffed a great chance to give the hosts the lead shortly after the restart, Lukasz Fabianski getting down well to save.

Routledge had Swansea manager Paul Clement wringing his hands in despair as shortly afterwards he skied over the bar from close range with Jakupovic out of position.

Silva then made the crucial call to remove Alfred N’Diaye and send on Niasse largely because the former was close to getting sent off after bringing down Sigurdsson.

Within minutes the change had paid dividends as the Senegalese striker, on loan from Everton, was fed by Abel Hernandez and he slotted home.

Niasse looked a different player from the one who failed abysmally at Everton and doubled his tally with a superb effort 12 minutes from time.

There was just enough time for Swansea defender Alfie Mawson to grab a consolation goal.

Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2mdxtH2

These Educative, Entertaining And Inspirational Pictures Will Blow Your Mind – 106

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These are just pictures but they tell stories that will either Educate, Entertain or Motivate you…

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In Syria: Syrian army besieges Daesh- held town of Bab

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Syrian government troops and their allied forces have laid siege to the town of al-Bab, the largest stronghold of Daesh terrorists in the northeastern countryside of Aleppo, according to a pro-opposition monitoring group.

The so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported on Monday that Syrian forces had completely surrounded the town.

The Britain-based group added that the advance followed the army’s capture of Awishyah hill, which is several hundred meters away from a road that links al-Bab to Raqqah and Dayr al-Zawr provinces.

The capture of the hill came hours after Syrian troops took control of the village of Awishyah, it said.

The latest advance means government forces have now encircled the terrorists in the towns of al-Bab, Bizaah, Qabasin and Tedif.

In January, the monitoring group reported that Daesh terrorists had transferred their families out of al-Bab to other areas under their control ahead of the Syrian army’s imminent advance on the town.

As a landmark victory against the invading terrorist groups, the Syrian army liberated the strategic city of Aleppo in 2016.

Meanwhile, Turkish forces fighting as part of Operation Euphrates Shield have failed to keep their control over Bizaah. Daesh terrorists are said to have recaptured the town after multiple ambushes that left an unconfirmed number of Turkish soldiers dead.

In August last year, the Turkish air force and special ground forces launched Operation Euphrates Shield inside Syria in a declared bid to aid the Free Syrian Army militants against Daesh terrorists.

Turkey is also accused of using the fight against Daesh as a cover to repel Kurdish forces, who themselves have been battling against the terrorist group.

Ankara has already made it clear that it will not tolerate Kurdish territorial gains close to its frontiers.

Source: PressTV

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