After having bauxite mining cancellation in Guinea, Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) now eyes Ghana to explore fresh bauxite-related opportunities. According to a report on June 4, the UAE-based aluminium major has inked an agreement with the Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC) to assess the feasibility of bauxite exploration in the West African country.
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What’s in the deal?
Under the agreement signed with GIADEC, EGA aims to explore Ghana’s estimated 920 million tonnes of bauxite reserves in Ghana, spread across Nyinahin (700 million tonnes), Kyebi (160 million tonnes), and Awaso (60 million tonnes). Despite this vast potential, Ghana currently produces just 1.5 million tonnes annually.
Beyond exploration, EGA will also examine the potential for long-term offtake agreements with GIADEC and possible collaboration on rail and port infrastructure to support expanded production.
Commenting on the deal signed, Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Global Aluminium, said: “This aligns well with EGA’s goal of diversifying our sources of upstream supply as we grow our metal production, including in the US as we progress our plans to develop a greenfield primary aluminium production plant as announced during the recent state visit to the UAE of President Trump. EGA is looking to double its bauxite production in the next few years and exploring multiple opportunities worldwide, and Ghana is amongst them.”
Strategy or coincidence?
While the timing of EGA’s move may appear coincidental, it seems more like a calculated strategic shift. The deal comes amid efforts by GIADEC’s Acting CEO, Mr. Reindorf Twumasi Ankrah, to attract foreign investment to help realise Ghana’s ambition of a fully integrated aluminium industry, an initiative projected to require over USD 6 billion in funding.