Sun Yuanwei and other dignitaries cutting the tape to inaugurate the vessel. INSET: The vessel MV CBS YEARS
Plans are underway for the Ghana Manganese Company (GMC) to establish a manganese refinery within the Tarkwa enclave of the mine near Nsuta in the Western Region.
The refinery, estimated to cost US$450 million, is expected to add value to raw products, create jobs for the youth, and improve the country’s socio-economic development.
The Deputy Managing Director of GMC, Sun Yuanwei, disclosed this at the inaugural and welcome ceremony of a vessel christened MV CBS Years at the Takoradi Port.
The vessel, which is the largest bulk carrier ever to dock at any port in West Africa, has a capacity of 300,000 metric tonnes and represents more than a milestone in the port’s operations.
Its arrival is an initiative by GMC in collaboration with COSCO Shipping Lines and the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA).
The development is expected to increase bulk export shipments through the Takoradi Port and, by extension, boost export revenue for GPHA and the country as a whole.
Mr. Yuanwei noted that the vessel’s arrival marks a new era not only for GMC but also for the sub-region’s maritime and mining industries.
“For GMC, this moment reaffirms our commitment to leadership in the global manganese market. Every tonne we mine, every shipment we dispatch, and every partnership we build tells a story of progress,” he said.
He stressed that the successful docking of the vessel demonstrates that the company’s infrastructure, workforce, and ambitions are ready for future challenges and opportunities.
The Director of the Takoradi Port, Captain James Quayson, said the berthing of the vessel is a testament to strategic vision, sustained infrastructure investment, operational efficiency, and strong public-private collaboration at the port.
He, however, stressed the need for manganese to be transported from the mining area to the port by rail.
To this end, he disclosed that plans are underway to link the Takoradi Port to the Western Railway Line “so that the cargo can come by rail and not by road.”
The Western Regional Minister, Joseph Nelson, expressed delight that manganese extracted from the region fuels industries across the globe and commended GMC for its plan to build a refinery to ensure value addition.
The Paramount Chief of the Essikado Traditional Area, Naba Kobina Nketsia V, remarked, “We are tired of our raw materials being exported without adding any value to them. I am happy GMC wants to build a refinery, but they did not tell us when they will start.”
He added that the proposed transportation of the ore by rail would help prolong the lifespan of the region’s road infrastructure.
From Emmanuel Opoku, Takoradi