RUSAL targets Ghana's massive bauxite reserves with a 5Mt mining plan

Russian aluminium producer Rusal has reached an agreement with Ghana's state-owned Ghana Integrated Aluminum Development Corporation (GIADEC) to jointly develop bauxite mining and alumina refining projects, marking a significant step towards expanding the country's domestic aluminium value chain.

Under the agreement, the projects will be implemented through two joint ventures in which Rusal will hold majority stakes. The proposed developments include bauxite mining operations with annual production capacity of up to 5 million tonnes and an alumina refinery capable of producing 1.2 million tonnes annually.

The projects will target the Nyinahin bauxite deposit in southwest Ghana, where estimated resources exceed 100 million tonnes, according to Rusal. The agreement was announced during a summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and African leaders in Moscow on October 29.

Ghana seeks to strengthen domestic aluminium industry

The partnership aligns with Ghana's ambition to establish an integrated aluminium industry that includes domestic processing of its bauxite resources.

GIADEC CEO Reindorf Twumasi Ankrah said the agreement supported the corporation's objective of developing a fully integrated aluminium industry in Ghana and enabling domestic bauxite processing.

Explore the production, demand and consumption forecasts of bauxite and alumina in our report: "Global Bauxite & Alumina Market Forecast to 2036: Supply–Demand, Trade Flows & Price Outlook"

The projects are expected to bring investment, create thousands of jobs and support improvements to the country's rail and port infrastructure, Ankrah said in a statement published by Rusal.

Ghana cancelled a USD 1.2 billion lease agreement with local company Rocksure International last year as it sought a foreign partner to develop the Nyinahin deposit.

The new agreement brings Rusal into the development of one of West Africa's richest bauxite deposits, although the companies have not disclosed the projects' investment value or implementation timelines.

Rusal looks to strengthen alumina supply security

The Ghana projects also align with Rusal's efforts to reduce its reliance on external alumina suppliers, following disruptions to its raw material supply chain in 2022. The company lost around 40 per cent of its alumina supplies from Ukraine and Australia that year.

Rusal, described by the source as the world's largest aluminium producer outside China, already operates extensively in Africa, including bauxite mines and alumina production assets in neighbouring Guinea.

The company produced 6.858 million tonnes of alumina in 2025, representing 4.7 per cent of global output and meeting approximately 85 per cent of its alumina requirements.

Developing additional bauxite mining and refining capacity in Ghana could further strengthen its upstream presence in West Africa while supporting the country's plans to process more of its mineral resources domestically.

Looking for alumina refinery raw materials? Compare grades, explore sourcing options, and connect with global suppliers on AL Biz.