VALCO Launches New Rolling Mill and Seeks Strategic Partner to Transform Ghana’s Aluminium Value Chain

Volta Aluminium Company Limited (VALCO) is entering a transformative phase with the introduction of a new continuous casting and rolling mill alongside a high-level government push to secure a strategic investor. These parallel efforts aim to modernize the long-standing smelter and pivot the company from primary aluminium smelting toward high-value manufacturing. As part of the national industrialization agenda, this state-led initiative seeks to reduce Ghana's reliance on imported raw materials while bolstering the local manufacturing sector through value addition.

The newly launched rolling mill allows VALCO to produce aluminium rods directly for the local market, specifically targeting manufacturers such as Nexans Kablemetal and Reroy Cables. During a performance review with the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, VALCO’s Finance Director, Sepenu Agbetsise, confirmed that local companies have already provided positive feedback on test samples. This strategic shift is designed to curb the drain on foreign exchange by replacing rod imports. Furthermore, VALCO is expanding its reach into international markets, having shipped 25 metric tonnes of H11 Electrical Conductor grade rods to Europe in June 2026 for evaluation.

To address structural challenges related to aging infrastructure and declining productivity, the government inaugurated an eight-member Negotiations Team on August 21, 2026. This team, which includes representatives from the Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC) and the Ministry of Finance, is tasked with securing a partner to inject capital for modernization and expansion. The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources emphasized that the initiative is a strategic partnership rather than an outright sale, intended to protect jobs and ensure the smelter's long-term commercial viability.

Despite these advancements, a significant bottleneck remains: the absence of a domestic alumina refinery. Although Ghana possesses vast bauxite reserves, VALCO currently relies on imported alumina, which significantly increases operational and logistical costs. Both the government and VALCO leadership maintain that establishing a local refinery is essential for a fully integrated aluminium industry. By aligning modernization with local value addition, Ghana aims to transition from a raw material exporter to a competitive regional hub for finished aluminium products.