Overview#
Katsina is the country's principal kaolin, manganese and gypsum producer outside the south, and a major agricultural state (cotton, groundnut, millet, hibiscus). The Katsina Steel Rolling Mill (Funtua) was one of the three Shagari-era 1979 steel rolling complexes (alongside Jos and Osogbo); it is presently dormant. The Katsina Wind Farm at Lambar Rimi (10 MW, completed 2020) is Nigeria's first utility-scale wind installation.
Geology & Deposits#
Kaolin. Kankara — large reserves, ceramic-grade. Manganese. Kankara, Bukkuyum (Zamfara border) — used historically as steel-making feedstock. Gypsum. Ingawa, Sandamu — supplies the northern cement plants. Iron-ore. Birchi. Asbestos, talc, chromite. Small. Hydrocarbons. None. Wind resource. Lambar Rimi (Funtua-area) — average wind-speed 7+ m/s at 80m. Agricultural produce. Cotton (Funtua was historically a major ginnery hub), groundnut, millet, sorghum, hibiscus, onions, gum-arabic.
Operators & Output#
- Katsina Steel Rolling Mill, Funtua — dormant. - PAN Manganese / artisanal operators — Kankara/Bukkuyum manganese. - Rural Electrification Agency (REA) / Katsina Wind Farm operator — 10 MW (commissioned 2020; not yet grid-synchronised at full capacity). - Smallholder cotton + groundnut.
Host-Community & Revenue#
No derivation. Royalty receipts on kaolin and manganese are remitted to the Federation Account. The state has been a primary North-West Development Commission beneficiary (where applicable).
Current Status#
Producing: kaolin (Kankara), gypsum (Ingawa), groundnut, cotton, hibiscus; the Lambar Rimi wind farm at limited output. Dormant: Katsina Steel Rolling Mill, Funtua ginneries at industrial scale.
References
Sources#
- Rural Electrification Agency — Katsina Wind Farm project file.
- Nigerian Mining Cadastre.
- Katsina State Ministry of Agriculture annual reports.