NAIROBI, November 2. /TASS/. Russian mining company Areal and the government of Nigeria’s Niger State have signed an agreement to build a gold refinery in Minna, the state capital, the Russian Trade Mission to Nigeria, Togo, Mali, and Burkina Faso announced on its Telegram channel.

According to the trade mission, the agreement was signed following a meeting between Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago and Areal CEO Vladislav Sviblov on the sidelines of the Third Russia-Africa Summit, held in Moscow on October 28-29.

The construction of the facility is expected to create new jobs, help bring gold mining out of the informal sector, and increase revenues for Nigeria’s federal and regional budgets. The project’s implementation timeline, estimated investment volume, and the refinery’s production capacity have yet to be disclosed.

Areal (formerly Highland Gold) is a Russian mining and metals company engaged in developing precious and non-ferrous metal deposits. Its operations span 11 Russian regions, including the Trans-Baikal, Kamchatka, and Khabarovsk Territories, Buryatia, and the Chukotka Autonomous Area. The company produces gold, silver, and other metals.