GBC Makes Giant Strides … First Ever Refinery To Process Bauxite At Awaso In The Offing

Ofori-Opoku Company limited (OPCL), the current owner and manager of Ghana Bauxite Company Limited (GBC) with 80% shareholding, has proposed to build a refinery at the locality, to add value to bauxite.

The proposal is the first time ever, since mining of bauxite started over 80 years ago.

The company intends to acquire between 2,500 and 3,000 square kilometers of land area in the Awaso enclave, for the construction of the proposed refinery project, to process the high quality bauxite from its concession 47.04 sq. km

The General Manager of GBC, Mr. Alexander Gyedu, while briefing the Western North Regional Minister, Mr. Wilbert Petty Brentum, during a tour of the mining sites last Friday to acquaint himself with the operations of the company, said the company has contracted the Lands Commission to evaluate the parcel of land and assess properties thereon, by the close of June, to enable it pay appropriate compensation to farmers and land owners.

He said other key stakeholders, including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), have been consulted for directives while three more surface miners have been procured to enhance operations.

General Manager Gyedu also announced that negotiations are ongoing with companies for the construction of the proposed refinery as soon as possible.

The company has, therefore, invested a substantial US$122.97 million in upgrading its infrastructure and operational efficiencies evident in the acquisition of a robust fleet of equipment, including surface miners, haulage trucks, dump trucks, excavators and retooling of existing plant and machinery.

The investment so far, over the last three years, is geared towards producing 6 million tons of bauxite by the close of 2025, having improved production from 59,585 tons in 2022 to 225,415 tons, with remarkable increase in volume of haulage.

He said the company’s production volumes have already seen a significant boost and that using surface mining and drill and blast methods, production has increased from 1.3 million tons per annum to about 1.8 million tons in 2024.

In 2022, Bosai group transferred its shareholding of 80% to Ofori-Opoku Company limited (OPCL), a member of the IOP Group of Companies, while the Government of Ghana is retaining its 20% share.

GBC’s Awaso Mine concession covers an area of 47.04 sq km, following the ratification of a 30-year Mining Lease covering the Subri, Inchiniso, Kanayerebo, Afumba and Boakakhirri.

GBC has been operating the Inchiniso pit since 1969, producing high-grade trihydrate bauxite annually.

The General Manager said OPCL has acquired 42 new earth-moving equipment, 52 new dump trucks, 16 new utilities, one surface miner and 35 new light-duty vehicles among others, and that the company was expecting the delivery of a second surface miner by the end of June 2025.

The company had also acquired 56 new equipment and 198 new trucks, including Sino trucks, RDT trucks, TX 400 dump trucks and Howo 371 trucks to enable the company to increase its production capacity and export more bauxite ore.

The General Manager mentioned that the Haulage department has also seen significant improvements with the addition of a 161 fleet of 9-axle trucks since taking over in 2022 by OPCL resulting in a substantial increase in haulage operations from around 600,000 tons in 2022 to about 1.7 million tons of bauxite in 2024.

Mr Gyedu assured that GBC would  remain committed to environmentally responsible mining practices  and  would prioritise environmental protection as it works towards achieving its production target of 6 million tons  by the end of 2025 adding that the acquisition of new equipment and technology is expected to reduce the company’s environmental footprint.

The company’s commitment to corporate social responsibility and environmentally responsible mining practices is a testament to its dedication to sustainable development.

He reiterated management of Ghana Bauxite Company Limited’s commitment to environmental protection, emphasizing that the company’s operations are guided by strict adherence to ecological regulations.

Mr. Alexander Gyedu said, Ghana Bauxite Company Limited (GBC) was dedicated to responsible resource management, striving to minimise its impact on the environment through conservation, reclamation measures and sustainable mining practices and diligently complies with regulatory standards and submits to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as required by law.

This, he said, demonstrates the company’s commitment to transparency and accountability in its environmental stewardship in response to the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources requirement for mining companies to prioritize environmental protection.

He said the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has also been working closely with the Ghana Bauxite Company Limited to ensure that it complies with environmental regulations in an effort to minimise its environmental impact in line with the government’s vision to promote sustainable development and environmental protection.

A highly impressed Western North Regional Minister, Mr. Wilbert Petty Brentum, pledged support for GBC’s efforts to engage all stakeholders in the catchment area towards development.

“It is refreshing to note that GBC operations have not caused any devastation to the environment”, the Minister remarked at the end of the tour of the facility.

Mr. Brentum was also happy that the management and workforce of the company were wholly Ghanaian.

He emphasiSed that the government was not against mining and encouraged GBC to do responsible mining by adopting best practices.

The Minister announced that the various MMDAs would be encouraged to collaborate with the GBC towards a sustained development of the area.

A Chief Director of the Regional Co-ordinating Council, Mr. Ali saw GBC as a role model of the Ghanaian business entity and urged mining companies to emulate safety and environmentally friendly practices of GBC.

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