The Ghana Bauxite Company is convinced that the construction of a bauxite refinery in the country will ensure that bauxite being rejected by the international market will be made useful locally and for export.

By the existing agreement with off takers, about 48 percent of alumina content is rejected for export, hence, dumped in the mine’s tailing dam as waste.

The General Manager of GBC, Alexander Gyedu, has indicated that the company is actively advancing efforts to construct a refinery for this purpose.

"We are very focused and determined to add value to the bauxite we are exporting now," he indicated.

Mr. Gyedu further added, "Some of the areas we are mining, the quality is a bit low, but if we have the refinery, the 48 percent alumina content and below will be refined."

He addressed the media on the sidelines of a working visit by the Ghana Bauxite Company to the Western North Regional Minister, Wilbert Petty Brentum.

Presently, the mine’s tailing dam, which is a disposing ground for the aluminium that failed to meet the export standards, is full.

Per their findings, it has about 47 per cent alumina content, worthy of being refined.

The content of the tailing dam will be the first area of target for the company after the successful completion of the refinery.

“We can refine the 47% alumina content we mine here. It will be refined, and we will get more money and pay more taxes, and contribute more to the GDP. We will recruit more workers and develop the locality, which fits in the GIADEC development plan of the refinery,” he added.

In 2022, IOP Group acquired 80 per cent shares of Ghana Bauxite Company Limited at Awaso in the Western North Region, marking a significant milestone in Ghana's mining industry.

The group has since invested US$122 million in infrastructure upgrade and resolution of operational inefficiencies, leading to an increase in the company’s bauxite tonnage to 1.8 million.

The construction of the refinery is the second step towards transforming the country’s mining industry to positively impact lives in the catchment.

Already, the land size of about three thousand square kilometres has been identified for evaluation by the Lands Commission.

Already, the Water Resources Commission, the Forestry Commission among other agencies are in the know of the development.

“Valuation Department of the Lands Commission is accessing the values of the property on the land and hopefully by the end of June we will have the valuation report and once we have it we will make payment to the affected farmers so we can commission the project,” Mr. Gyedu insisted.

Meanwhile, the Western North Regional Coordinating Council has assured of support for the Ghana Bauxite Company’s plans to build a refinery in the area.

According to the Minister, Wilbert Petty Brentum, the refinery when developed will lead to the economic empowerment of people in the area.

He further commended the changes the fully-owned Ghanaian company has brought into bauxite mining after the takeover.