Ghana to begin construction of first Manganese Refinery in August
Ghana is set to commence the construction of its first manganese refinery this August, as announced by Samuel Abu Jinapor, Minister of Lands and Natural Resources. The project will be led by Ningxia Tianyuan Manganese Industry Group Company Limited, the parent company of Ghana Manganese Company (GMC).
Mr. Jinapor made this announcement at the official opening of the 17th edition of the West African Mining and Power Conference and Exhibition (WAMPOC/WAMPEX) on June 5 in Accra.
He emphasized the importance of value addition and local participation in Ghana’s mining sector, stating that, “To ensure that Ghanaians, who are, by our national Constitution, the owners of our mineral resources, benefit fully from these resources, we are putting in place measures to promote beneficiation and value addition, as well as local content and local participation in the sector.”
Highlighting the government’s commitment to refining local minerals, Mr Jinapor noted, “We have, therefore, through a public-private partnership, constructed a 400kg capacity gold refinery to refine the gold we produce, and work on a US$450 million manganese refinery that will start in August.”
The initiative is part of Ghana’s broader strategy to ensure that the country reaps maximum benefits from its mineral resources through local processing and value addition, thereby enhancing economic growth and development.
The president of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Michael Edem Akafia, underscored the significance of WAMPOC/WAMPEX in facilitating business opportunities within the mining and power sectors.
He noted that past events have had a 40% conversion rate for turning prospects into deals.
Mr. Akafia encouraged attendees to actively engage in the sessions and networking discussions to capitalize on the opportunities presented by the conference.
“I encourage all of you to actively participate in the sessions, engage in the networking discussions and seize the opportunities presented by this conference to contribute to the sustainable development of mining and power in West Africa. Past participants can attest to the lasting benefits from previous WAMPOC/WAMPEX events,” he noted.
This year’s forum, themed “The Mining and Power Hub: Driving Sustainable Investment Opportunities,” aims to promote sustainable investment and development within the mining and power sectors in West Africa.
The conference provides a crucial platform for stakeholders to discuss and explore ways to advance the industry, foster collaboration, and drive economic growth in the region.
The commencement of the manganese refinery project marks a significant milestone in Ghana’s efforts to boost its mining sector and ensure that the benefits of its mineral resources are maximized for the benefit of its citizens.
