Godfred Addo Ayisi (1st right) with some officials from UMaT
The vision of the Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC) for the downstream aluminum industry is to drive the utilisation of locally produced aluminium products in the country.
Each year, Ghana imports up to 45,000 tonnes of aluminium products and GIADEC’s aims to have many of the products produced locally.
Head of Technical Services at Rocksure International Limited, a Ghanaian-owned mining service company, Godfred Addo Ayisi, disclosed this at the 11th Alumni Association of University of Mines and Technology (ALUMaT) Lecture,
The lecture titled, “Overview of Ghana’s Integrated Aluminum Industry” was organized at the UMaT School of Railways and Infrastructure Development at Essikado..
He indicated since the exploration and mining works in the 1940’s Ghana has been exporting bauxite ore and therefore benefitting from only the mining aspect of the Integrated Aluminium Industry.
“Meanwhile, countries like Ukraine. China and Brazil mainly benefits from the upstream aspects like the refinery into alumina and smelting the alumina into aluminium”, he mentioned.
Mr. Ayisi revealed that Ghana has bauxite resource of over two billion metric tonnes in the Awaso, Nyinahin-Mpasaaso, Kibi and Ejuanema areas adding “With the exception of the Awaso deposit the rest remain untapped”.
He said about 20 per cent of what the Volta Aluminum Company Limited (VALCO) produces is used by local entities producing semi-processed and end-user materials.
“The products produced locally include electrical cables and conductors, holloware, including pots and pans and roofing sheets,” he said.
Mr. Ayisi further noted that apart from gaining financially, the established Integrated Aluminum Industry (IAI) will provide employment and enhance the country’s infrastructure development including the Western Rail Line, expansion of the Takoradi Port to facilitate bauxite ore and alumina export.
He also pointed out that in order to ensure a successful IAI, GIADEC looked for investors to partner them to develop the bauxite deposits.
“The first Ghanaian company that met all the requirements in the criteria set out for the selection was Rocksure International Limited (Rocksure) which was awarded the Nyinahin Block ‘B’ Bauxite Concession.
From Emmanuel Opoku, Takoradi