The Volta Aluminium Company Limited (VALCO) is expanding its operations beyond primary aluminium production with a new continuous casting and rolling mill designed to produce aluminium rods for Ghana’s electrical cable industry and potentially international markets.
The development is expected to help Ghana retain more value from its aluminium resources by providing locally produced materials to downstream manufacturers and reducing dependence on imported aluminium inputs.
VALCO Finance Director, Sepenu Agbetsise, disclosed the development during the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources’ mid-year performance review and training programme in Accra.
He said the new production line had undergone industrial testing with local cable manufacturers Nexans Kablemetal and Reroy Cables, with both companies giving positive feedback on the samples supplied.
According to him, the mill marks a shift in VALCO’s traditional role as a primary aluminium producer towards the manufacture of higher-value products for other industries.
Reducing import dependence
The new facility could reduce the reliance of Ghana’s cable industry on imported aluminium rods, while also helping manufacturers cut supply-chain costs and exposure to international freight disruptions.
The project supports Ghana’s broader ambition of developing an integrated aluminium industry that covers mining, refining, smelting and the production of finished and semi-finished products.
The Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC) is leading efforts to develop this value chain, with VALCO’s rolling mill providing an important link between aluminium production and downstream manufacturing.
Potential for exports
VALCO is also exploring opportunities beyond Ghana. As of June 2026, about 25 metric tonnes of H11 Electrical Conductor grade aluminium rods had been sent to Europe for testing.
Results were expected by the end of August, and successful testing could allow VALCO to enter international markets with value-added aluminium products.
Alumina remains a challenge
Despite the progress, VALCO continues to depend on imported alumina for its smelting operations because Ghana does not yet have a domestic alumina refinery.
Mr Agbetsise said this dependence creates significant financing, freight and logistics costs, as the company has to pay for alumina and bear the costs of transporting both raw materials into Ghana and finished aluminium products to external markets.
He noted that establishing a local alumina refinery would shorten the supply chain, reduce financing requirements and improve the competitiveness of Ghana’s aluminium industry.
A step towards an integrated industry
The government continues to pursue the development of an alumina refinery as part of efforts to complete Ghana’s aluminium value chain.
For VALCO, however, the new rolling mill provides an opportunity to capture more value from locally produced aluminium while the refinery challenge is being addressed.
The company is also looking at potential markets in construction, automotive, packaging and other manufacturing sectors.
With positive feedback from local cable producers and international testing underway, the rolling mill could mark a significant step in transforming VALCO from a traditional aluminium smelter into a producer of higher-value products, while supporting Ghana’s goal of reducing imports, creating jobs and earning more from its aluminium resources.
Source: myjoyonline.com