The Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC) has joined forces with Mytilineos Energy and Metals in a landmark agreement to propel the construction of an alumina refinery in Ghana. Known as Project 3A, this collaboration represents a strategic move away from the conventional practice of exporting raw bauxite, signaling an end to decades of such exports from Ghana. Instead, the focus is set on refining locally mined bauxite, with the resulting alumina becoming a crucial feedstock for the Volta Aluminium Company (VALCO) smelter.
Key details from the agreement:
- Project Focus: Project 3A is part of the broader Integrated Aluminium Industry (IAI) projects, concentrating on constructing a bauxite mine and a cutting-edge alumina refinery.
- End of Raw Bauxite Exports: The shift in focus signifies a departure from the historical exportation of raw bauxite, aiming to enhance local value addition.
- Mytilineos Role: Mytilineos Energy and Metals, a Greek company, will lead the development of the bauxite mine and oversee the construction of the alumina refinery.
- Economic Impact: President Nana Akufo-Addo emphasized the transformational impact on the local economy and wealth creation through the development of the IAI.
- Global Partnership: Mytilineos S.A. was selected through a thorough investor engagement process, attracting approximately 40 companies globally.
- Projected Output: The project is expected to produce a minimum of five million metric tonnes of bauxite and about two million tonnes of alumina annually.
- Job Creation: GIADEC CEO, Michael Ansah, highlighted that Project 3A would generate over 1,500 jobs and focus on collaboration with local subcontractors and talent.
- Environmental Standards: President Akufo-Addo emphasized the commitment to world-class environmental standards and the selection of a partner adhering to such standards.
The development of Project 3A is a significant step towards fostering value addition and economic growth within Ghana’s bauxite industry. Mytilineos’s role in this project is expected to pave the way for further investments in the domestic aluminum industry. 
