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Difficulty: MediumManufacturing and Industrial Development in Nigeria

The strategic siting of Nigeria's premier integrated iron and steel industrial complex at Ajaokuta in Kogi State was primarily determined by proximity to which of the following combinations of raw materials?

  1. Iron ore deposits at Itakpe and limestone quarries at JakuraAnswer
  2. B
    Large urban market centers and commercial port terminals in Lagos and Ibadan
  3. C
    Sub-bituminous coal fields in the Niger Delta basin and imported bauxite
  4. D
    Petroleum refineries at Port Harcourt and natural gas fields at Warri

Answer

Iron ore deposits at Itakpe and limestone quarries at Jakura
The correct option highlights the iron ore reserves at Itakpe and limestone at Jakura. Primary iron and steel smelting is a classic heavy, weight-losing manufacturing process. Siting the Ajaokuta Steel Company in Kogi State dramatically lowers production costs by placing the plant in close spatial proximity to its essential mineral inputs.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the industrial classification of primary iron and steel smelting.
Primary iron smelting is classified as a heavy, weight-losing industry dependent on massive inputs of iron ore and fluxing material (limestone).
According to Weber's industrial location theory, weight-losing processes incur high raw material transport costs and must be located near mineral extraction sites.
2
Map the raw material locations supporting the Ajaokuta steel complex in Kogi State.
The plant is situated near the Itakpe hill iron ore deposit (about 52 km away) and the Jakura limestone quarry.
Proximity to these heavy essential minerals minimizes total ton-kilometer transportation costs for raw materials.

Key Concept

Raw Material Orientation in Heavy Mineral Processing Industries
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Topics

Manufacturing and Industrial Development in Nigeria

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