Construction of Ghana’s first manganese refinery starts August - Jinapor

The construction of Ghana's first manganese refinery is set to commence this August, announced Mr. Samuel Abu Jinapor, the 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).

Speaking at the official opening of the 17th edition of the West African Mining and Power Conference and Exhibition (WAMPOC/WAMPEX) on Wednesday, June 5, in Accra, Mr. Jinapor said, "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."

"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 will start in August," the minister added.

Mr. Michael Edem Akafia, the president of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, spoke about the impact of events like WAMPOC/WAMPEX, stating they have a 40% conversion rate for turning prospects into deals.

"I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all our sponsors, partners, and participants for their unwavering support and commitment to making this event a success. Your contributions are instrumental in creating a platform for dialogue, knowledge sharing, and collaboration essential for advancement and growth. Please join me in thanking and applauding them," Mr. Akafia expressed.

He encouraged active participation in the sessions, networking discussions, and seizing the opportunities presented by the conference to contribute to the sustainable development of mining and power in West Africa. He noted that past participants can attest to the lasting benefits from previous WAMPOC/WAMPEX events.

This year's forum is themed "The Mining and Power Hub: Driving Sustainable Investment Opportunities."