Awaso and Nyinahin mines to produce ten million tonnes of bauxite for export, says GIADEC boss

Michael Ansah, the chief executive officer of the Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC), says the mine projects at Awaso and Nyinahin, when fully operational, are expected to produce roughly ten million tonnes of bauxite for export.

Ansah says GIADEC is collaborating with the Ministry of Railways Development to make sure that “we can build the Western Line railway to bring these bulk [bauxite] materials from Awaso and Nyinahin”.

Speaking with Nana Yaa Mensah on The Asaase Breakfast Show, he said: “The way mining works is that they will do all the studies and commence mining. At that point they will probably be mining about a million to two million tonnes, and that will then grow to a steady state of about five million tonnes.

“The five million tonnes is the quantity we need to feed a two-million-tonne refinery. That is the development plan for this Mpasaaso-Nyinahin mine.

“So, the idea is to build a five-million-metric-tonne mine that will feed into a refinery, and that will then be the basis for everything that we want to do in that area,” Ansah said.

Ruined roads

“That is significant. Today we are doing one million [tonnes] in Awaso. We are carting these bulk bauxites on the Awaso-Takoradi road and that’s in a sorry state. It is in a sorry state because that’s not where we want to transport our bauxite.

“Our focus as GIADEC is on collaborating with the Ministry of Railways Development to make sure that we can build the Western Line railway to bring these bulk materials from Awaso and Nyinahin,” Ansah said.

“When the two mines are operational we are looking at some ten million tonnes of bauxite being exported. And of course when we develop alumina as well there will be bulk materials going up and down that route.

“So that’s a very viable railway infrastructure that will open up the entire Western Corridor of Ghana. And it won’t just benefit bauxite but [it will also benefit] manganese, cocoa and other products,” he said.

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Ghanaian solutions for Ghanaian problems

President Akufo-Addo on Tuesday (14 September) announced the government’s approval for the selection of Rocksure International as a strategic partner for GIADEC.

The signing on Tuesday of a memorandum of understanding between GIADEC and Rocksure is a crucial step towards developing the Nyinahin-Mpasaaso mine, project two of Ghana’s four-phase Integrated Aluminium Industry (IAI), worth roughly US$6 billion overall.

Addressing guests at the launch of the IAI projects and the signing ceremony for project two, President Akufo-Addo said the choice of a wholly Ghanaian-owned company is a big step forward. It will build capacity in Ghana for the bauxite industry through a partnership which will ensure that the country develops a Ghanaian solution that will propel rapid national growth.

“I am happy to announce that GIADEC has completed the selection of a strategic partner for project two, which is the development of the Nyinahin-Mpasaaso mine with a refinery,” President Akufo-Addo said.

“This is a significant development and one that brings us closer to realising our plan. Rocksure International, a wholly-owned Ghanaian company, is that strategic partner.”

He said: “I congratulate warmly Rocksure International on their selection after due process. The choice of a Ghanaian company in a highly competitive process is very pleasing, at a time when we are looking for home-grown companies that can compete with the best across the world.

“I am certain that Rocksure International, with their demonstrable achievement and track record of excellent delivery, will be a credible partner to GIADEC. This choice indeed is a major step forward towards building capacity in Ghana for this industry, for a partnership that will ensure we develop a Ghanaian solution that will propel our rapid growth,” the president said.

Challenges ahead

Speaking at the event, the GIADEC chief executive said: “There are challenges ahead – environmental concerns, transportation bottlenecks, the high-energy-intensive process of aluminium production, and the need to develop clean energy solutions. We shall confront these with urgency.

“GIADEC has come a long way in establishing our foundations for growth. What remains is for us to build on these foundations.

“This is a national agenda, an investment in our collective future, that requires collaboration from all. Together we can, and shall, make history,” Ansah said.

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