GIADEC selects Rocksure International as strategic partner to develop Nyinahin-Mpasaaso mine

President Akufo-Addo has announced that the government has approved the selection of Rocksure International as a strategic partner for the Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC) to develop the Nyinahin-Mpasaaso mine.

Nyinahin-Mpasaaso was the second planned project in the four-phase creation of an Integrated Aluminium Industry (IAI) in Ghana worth roughly US$6 billion; it is, however, the first project to get off the ground.

Addressing guests at the launch ceremony for the IAI project and signing ceremony for Nyinahin-Mpasaaso Project 2 at Africa Trade House in Accra on Tuesday (14 September 2021), President Akufo-Addo said the choice of a wholly Ghanaian-owned company is indeed a big step forward.

It will build capacity in Ghana’s bauxite industry through a partnership which will ensure that Ghana develops a locally minted solution that will propel her rapid growth.

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

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

“I congratulate Rocksure International warmly 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.

Environmental protection

On the subject of responsible mining, President Akufo-Addo indicated that his administration, working through the country’s regulatory bodies, will ensure that the bauxite mining to be carried out under the GIADEC-Rocksure International partnership is done in a manner that will preserve the nation’s forest reserves and water bodies.

“A key area of attention in the development of this entire plan has been the focus on environmental issues with respect to the exploitation of our significant mining deposits. We believe that mining can and must be done in a responsible manner,” the president said.

“The government through its regulatory agencies will act to protect our environment at all times.

“I reiterate that steps will be taken to ensure that all mining activities are done in a responsible manner, in accordance with our regulations,” the president further said.

GIADEC leader

In his address, the chief executive officer of GIADEC, Michael Ansah, noted that in respect of Project 2, for which Rocksure International has been selected as the strategic partner, “It is anticipated that mining operations, after preliminary works and studies, will commence within 24 months.

“Development of a refinery solution will commence in tandem, with construction timeline estimated at four years.

“Global trends indicate a growing demand for aluminium and related products. Our mission is timely! And our vision, ‘to be the leading integrated aluminium company in Africa’, defines our intent and our bold aspirations,” the GIADEC boss 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.

Rocksure International

Rocksure International Ltd has developed a considerable capacity and flexibility over the years for implementing measures to meet the challenges of planning, equipping and staffing mining sites.

This is the case particularly in Ghana, the company’s home country, where local content has been identified as a key component in redefining mining as an important platform for national economic development.

In this connection, Rocksure’s local and sub-regional knowledge, expertise and experience have particularly empowered the company to link up with all leading stakeholders to deliver the basis for the emerging development partnerships.

Rocksure International operates as a one-stop shop for all the mining needs of companies based in the West African sub-region.

In particular, the company undertakes modularised jobs, such as drilling, blasting, loading and haulage. Its proven activities to date have been in the areas of: grade control (RC) drilling, blast-hole drilling and blasting, mine construction activities such as road haulage, public roads, tailings dams, ROM PAD construction and other earthworks and, more recently, crushed ore stockpile management.

Elsewhere within the sub-region, the company has successfully undertaken similar contract projects in Mauritania and Mali.

GIADEC

The Ghana lntegrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC) was established through an act of Parliament in August 2018 to develop and promote a globally competitive Integrated Aluminium Industry (IAI) in Ghana.

GIADEC’s mandate fits within the Government of Ghana’s (GoG) Ghana Beyond Aid agenda of reviving manufacturing industry and adding value to our minerals, oil and gas. This agenda will be underpinned by an integrated aluminium industry, which will utilise and run off our bauxite deposits, and a petrochemicals industry, which will tie in with the oil and gas industries (as set out in the Ghana Beyond Aid Charter of 2019).

GIADEC seeks to leverage Ghana’s existing bauxite reserves and allied aluminium assets, including its interest in Ghana Bauxite Company (GBC) and Volta Aluminium Company (VALCO), to drive full commercial exploitation of the nation’s bauxite reserves, and add value by refining bauxite into alumina, and further smelting alumina to produce aluminium, while encouraging the development of downstream industries.

Integral to this is attracting strategic investment and local participation across the value chain. GIADEC is required to hold a minimum equity of 30% in any joint venture in the integrated industry.

While delivering on this mandate, the corporation also seeks to ensure that the environment as well as the interests of all stakeholders – and those of the mining communities which will be affected by mining and associated activities in particular – are protected.

Wilberforce Asare

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