The Ghana Bauxite Company Limited (GBC) has reportedly clarified that its sole purpose for building a state-of-the-art alumina refinery is to process low-grade bauxite that has been rejected by international markets.
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General Manager of GBC, Alexander Gyedu, said: “Some of the areas we are mining, the quality is a bit low, but if we have the refinery, the 48 per cent alumina content and below will be refined. Currently, such ore is dumped in the tailing dam, which is now full but contains deposits averaging 47 per cent alumina, suitable for refining.”
GBC’s report on processing low-grade bauxite followed the announcement of its plan to accelerate the construction of the refinery, as part of its strategic moves towards enhancing domestic bauxite processing capabilities and reducing the nation’s reliance on foreign refineries.
Gyedu emphasised that the goal with this new refinery would be to contribute substantially to Ghana’s economy through local value addition, job creation and increased tax revenues. Western North Regional Minister Wilbert Petty Brentum called the initiative transformative, citing its potential to empower communities across Awaso and neighbouring areas.
Gyedu added, “We can refine the 47 per cent alumina content we mine here. It will be refined, and we will get more money and pay more taxes and contribute more to the GDP. We will recruit more workers and develop the locality, which fits in the GIADEC development plan of the refinery.”
The tailings will be the initial target for refining post-construction. Since IOP Group acquired an 80 per cent stake in 2022, GBC has invested USD 122 million in infrastructure and operational efficiency, increasing annual bauxite output to a record 1.8 million tonnes in 2024.
As groundwork for the refinery, about 3,000 square kilometres of land has been identified. The Lands Commission's Valuation Department is currently assessing property values, with compensation to affected farmers expected by the end of June 2025, paving the way for project commencement.
Additionally, GBC has set an ambitious production target of six million tonnes by end-2025. Supporting this goal is a USD 123 million investment in new machinery, including 42 earth-moving units, 52 dump trucks, 16 utility vehicles and two surface miners. The impact of these upgrades is already visible in Ghana’s highest-ever bauxite output.
Minister Brentum reiterated government support, praising GBC’s strides since becoming a fully Ghanaian-owned firm. “The refinery will boost local employment, grow the regional economy and ensure Ghana extracts maximum value from its natural resources,” he noted.
These developments mark a turning point in Ghana’s aluminium sector, laying the foundation for a self-sufficient, value-driven mining ecosystem aligned with GIADEC’s integrated development plan.
Also read: GBC to supercharge Ghana’s domestic alumina industry with its upcoming Awaso refinery
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