Ghana is in the process of expanding the existing bauxite mine in Awaso, as well as developing additional mines in Nyinahin and Kyebi.
According to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ghana’s Integrated Aluminium Industry (GIADEC), Mr. Michael Ansah, the move was part of plans to make the industry the leading Integrated Aluminium Company in Africa.
“In Nyinahin, we can do about 10 million tons, five million in Awaso and also about another five million in Kyebi,” he explained.
Mr. Ansah disclosed this when he paid a working visit to the Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL) last Friday.
He also said GIADEC had obtained all the prospective licence on all the bauxite areas in Ghana; hence, nobody could mine bauxite without engaging his outfit.
“Nobody can do bauxite mining without engaging GIADEC. Nobody can do just bauxite mining because the laws require that we export refined products. So it has really defined the parameters in which we want to operate in these areas,” he said.
Citing the GIADEC Master plan, Mr. Ansah said the plan was to expand the VALCO smelter and develop a second smelter to increase Ghana’s aluminium production capacity.
He added that GIADEC would also develop refineries with the goal of maximising in-country value by refining bauxite into alumina, and limiting the export of raw bauxite.
“Apart from VALCO, there is potential to develop additional smelters…. So we are looking at developing the mines, developing the refineries, revamping the smelter and then building downstream industries,” he said.
He further said: “In terms of the refineries, our aspiration is to build about four million metric tonnes capacity and then smelter, revamping VALCO and then the downstream industries related to the various sectors of the economy.”
Mr. Ansah said in collaboration with the Ministry of Railways Development, more rails would be constructed to help transport imported commodities, adding that GIADEC had had talks with the ministry regarding the Western and Eastern lines.
He added that they were also liaising with the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) to expand the ports and further improve the capacity to carry the loads.
Mr. Ansah said as part of processes to develop a globally competitive integrated aluminium industry in Ghana, the government had decided to allocate power to his outfit at a price that was industry competitive.
In addition, he said the gas pipeline was a game changer for the industry, “because we now have a lot of gas in Ghana and as we speak, gas pipe lines are being laid to the bauxite mining areas”.
For his part, the acting Managing Director of GCGL, Mr. Franklin Sowa, assured the GIADEC of the support of the company towards the promotion of its activities.
He also encouraged GIADEC to patronise the various products of GCGL such as the news APP, Graphic Online, newspapers and Tertiary Business Sense Challenge.
The Deputy Editor of the Daily Graphic, Mr. Theophilus Yartey, lauded GIADEC for the comprehensive master plan.
He advised the company to adhere to the plan, which he noted would help them achieve their goals.
He said the doors of the paper were always opened to GIADEC in order to create awareness about their activities.
