Ghana is set to make a historic leap in mineral beneficiation as the Ghana Manganese Company (GMC), majority-owned by Tianyuan Manganese Industry (TMI) of China, prepares to establish the country’s first major manganese refinery plant at Nsuta-Tarkwa in the Western Region.
The move aligns with Ghana’s new export value-addition policy, which seeks to enhance the value of mineral exports through local processing and refined output.
The upcoming Manganese Refinery Plant (MRP) will play a transformative role by increasing the quality of manganese ore from the current average of 27% to approximately 40% manganese content.
More significantly, the plant will produce high-grade manganese products for the global market, including battery-grade manganese, a critical component in electric vehicle batteries and renewable energy storage systems.
Ghana’s Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, confirmed this major industrial shift following a strategic six-day visit to Tianyuan Manganese Industry’s industrial hub in China.
His mission was to deepen bilateral cooperation and gain firsthand insight into the technologies and sustainable practices TMI deploys in its operations.
“This project marks a turning point for Ghana’s mining sector. It is a clear demonstration of how value addition can translate into industrial growth, employment creation, and increased foreign exchange earnings.”
Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah
Ghana’s Nsuta manganese mine, operational since 1916, has long been a source of raw ore exports, predominantly destined for processing at TMI’s Chinese facilities.
Value Retention
With the planned refinery, Ghana is charting a new course—one that retains a greater portion of the value chain domestically.
According to officials, the plant is expected not only to create jobs but also to develop local technical skills and enhance community development in Tarkwa and beyond.
Hon. Armah Kofi Buah and his delegation were given an extensive tour of TMI’s massive 56-square-kilometre industrial complex.
The facility includes a Building Material Park that integrates cement and power plants run using by-products from manganese refining, a Logistics Park that facilitates manganese shipments from Ghana and other countries, and a Manganese Refinery Park equipped with three advanced plants capable of producing battery-grade manganese.
Also noteworthy was TMI’s Eco-Park, which showcases the company’s investment in environmentally sustainable practices and green industrial design.
Impressed by the scale and sophistication of TMI’s operations, Hon. Armah Kofi Buah commended the company’s efforts in promoting industrial integration and environmental stewardship.
He assured TMI of Ghana’s preparedness to hold inter-ministerial consultations to examine and respond to the company’s investment facilitation requests.
“Collaborative efforts like these are essential for driving industrial growth, unlocking value from our minerals, and positioning Ghana as a leader in mineral beneficiation across Africa.”
Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah
TMI’s Assurance
TMI’s support for the Ghanaian initiative was unequivocally reaffirmed during the Minister’s visit. Chairman Jia Tianjiang extended the company’s long-term commitment to the project while outlining a set of requests that would ensure the plant’s commercial viability.
These include a proposed increase in GMC’s annual production cap from 5 to 10 million tonnes, competitive gas pricing pegged at USD 4 per MMBtu, as well as tax exemptions on critical equipment and services, and income tax incentives during the early years of the refinery’s operation.
The refinery is expected to significantly boost Ghana’s export earnings, enhance tax revenue generation, and provide a sustainable pathway for socio-economic development in the resource-rich Western Region.
For the communities in Tarkwa and its surrounding areas, the refinery promises not only employment but also long-term investment in education, infrastructure, and environmental sustainability.
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