VALCO’s Aluminium Rolling Mill: Revolutionizing Ghana’s Industry with

VALCO's Aluminium Game-Changer: Rolling Mill Revolutionizes Industry

The Volta Aluminium Company Limited (VALCO) is making significant strides in Ghana's aluminium industry with the introduction of a continuous casting and rolling mill. The development, which aims to supply locally manufactured intermediate products to downstream industries, is expected to strengthen Ghana's efforts to retain more value from its aluminium resources.

VALCO's New Production Line: A Game-Changer for Ghana's Industry

VALCO's Finance Director, Sepenu Agbetsise, disclosed the development at the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources' mid-year performance review and training programme held at the Marriott Hotel in Accra. The new production line has already undergone industrial testing with two local cable manufacturers, Nexans Kablemetal and Reroy Cables, with the companies providing satisfactory feedback on the samples supplied.

The new mill could have significant implications for Ghana's cable and manufacturing industries, which rely substantially on imported aluminium inputs. By producing aluminium rods locally, VALCO could provide manufacturers with a domestic source of an important intermediate product, potentially shortening supply chains and reducing exposure to international freight costs and supply disruptions.

A New Era for VALCO: From Primary Aluminium to Value-Added Products

VALCO's traditional role as a producer of primary aluminium is shifting with the introduction of the new production line. The company is now in a position to supply higher-value products to manufacturers, reducing the need for imported aluminium inputs. "Hitherto, these companies would have had to import the rod and process it into the various cables that power our homes. Now, VALCO is in a position to supply those directly," Mr Agbetsise said.

The development represents an important shift in VALCO's operations, enabling the company to capture greater value from its aluminium resources. By producing aluminium rods locally, VALCO can provide manufacturers with a domestic source of an important intermediate product, potentially shortening supply chains and reducing exposure to international freight costs and supply disruptions.

Eye on the Export Market: VALCO's Ambition to Establish Global Presence

The company is also looking beyond the domestic market as it seeks to establish the quality and commercial viability of its products internationally. As of June 2026, about 25 metric tonnes of H11 Electrical Conductor (EC) grade aluminium rods had been shipped to Europe for testing. The results were expected by the end of August, according to the information presented at the review.

Successful testing and market acceptance could open another avenue for VALCO to supply value-added aluminium products to international customers, strengthening Ghana's position in the global aluminium market. The company's ambition to establish a global presence in the aluminium industry is a significant step towards achieving this goal.

Completing the Value Chain: The Need for a Domestic Alumina Refinery

Despite the progress on downstream production, VALCO continues to face a major structural challenge: Ghana does not yet have a domestic alumina refinery. The company relies on imported alumina as the key raw material for its smelting operations. Mr Agbetsise said the dependence on imported alumina placed pressure on the company's working capital because of the time between placing orders, making payments and receiving the material.

The arrangement also exposes VALCO to substantial logistics and financing costs. A domestic alumina refinery, therefore, could substantially shorten the supply chain, reduce inventory-in-transit requirements and ease financing and logistics costs. If a domestic alumina refinery is established, VALCO could effectively reduce its reliance on imported alumina and improve its competitiveness in the industry.

Source: JOY