On-going projects and plans of the Aluminium Department include,

1 Relating with Downstream Manufacturing Sector

The Department relates constantly with downstream stakeholders such as Association of Primary Aluminium Producers (APAP). This has actually aided rapid development in the Sector. While the production of ingot at ALSCON lasted, downstream producers bought directly from the factory site duty free. The downstream producers enjoyed these facilities as a result of the Export Processing Zone facility granted to ALSCON. Also, problems earlier experienced with importation, shipment, freight cost, foreign exchange sourcing by all small-medium scale Aluminium industries were eliminated.

2 Local Sourcing of Input Materials

Intensification of effort to ensure local sourcing of alumina which is obtained from bauxite is paying off. The Department is coordinating the activities of the Inter-Ministerial Committee set up for the purpose of sourcing aluminium and allied primary raw materials for Aluminium Smelting in Nigeria .

3 Public Awareness on Investment Potentials

The Department creates awareness on the potentials for small scale industrialisation in the Aluminium and non-ferrous metals sub-sectors and provides technical and other support services to the entrepreneurs. To achieve this, several workshops and seminars are organised as fora for consultation with the private sector. In most cases, the Department liaises between APAP and the Federal Government on ECOWAS Trade Protocol to ensure effective protection of the manufacturers by the Protocol.

4 Monitoring Domestic Demand and Establishing Data Bank

The Department is working on the development of appropriate tools and strategy for monitoring domestic demand and supply indices so as to establish Data Bank and other fiscal indicators on pricing and other statistical projections. This is to enable Government to monitor the local consumption pattern and the export capacity of the products manufactured.