Banklink Africa Private Equities Limited has injected an additional N2 billion into Critical Minerals Financing Corporation Plc, bringing total capital deployed to N3 billion under a N6 billion takeover and capitalisation agreement. Report Businessday NG
The funding accelerates transformation of former DEAP Capital Management & Trust Plc into a specialist mining finance platform targeting Nigeria’s long-standing funding gap in critical minerals.
The balance of committed capital is expected to be delivered within the month completing the three-tranche disbursement structure. Chairman Lamon Rutten stated the accelerated funding pace signals rising investor confidence in CMFC’s ambition to become a leading institutional platform for financing critical minerals in Nigeria and across Africa.
Strategic Positioning CMFC aims to mobilise domestic and international capital into mining, processing and downstream industrial activity, positioning Nigeria to retain more value from its mineral endowment as global demand rises for lithium, copper, rare earths, tin and zinc alongside the energy transition.
The company will operate across mining project finance, structured credit, commodity trading, export finance and capital markets issuance, functioning as a financial anchor for a broader industrial ecosystem rather than a conventional lender.
Nigeria holds mineral assets estimated at $700 billion, yet most remain untapped with primary output exported in raw form. CMFC plans to connect projects, processors, traders and manufacturers to capital, expertise and international markets.
Analysts note the emergence of a dedicated private-sector platform could unlock investment flows into a sector central to Nigeria’s economic diversification drive.
Board and Governance**The company has secured high-net-worth global investors from Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Europe, with plans to explore additional investment commitments globally.
CMFC will operate a multi-region structure with offices in Lagos, London, Hong Kong, South Africa and Nairobi for origination, capital raising and trading.
Shareholders approved the company’s change of name, capital raising programme and plans to establish partnerships locally and internationally at its March 12, 2026 Annual General Meeting.
The company stated its focus on critical minerals financing is expected to begin delivering noticeable gains within 12 to 24 months as it deploys capital and advances projects along the mineral value chain.
Source: Punch.ng
