Rusal plans major bauxite mining and processing project in Ghana

Russian aluminium producer Rusal has signed a memorandum of understanding with Ghana’s state agency, the Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC), to develop bauxite mining and alumina processing operations. The proposed joint venture aims for an annual bauxite production of five million metric tonnes and a processing capacity of 1.2 million tonnes.

The agreement, signed in Moscow during the Russia-Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum, targets the development of the Nyinahin bauxite deposit. If realized, the project would represent a significant scale for Ghana’s aluminium industry, potentially elevating its operations beyond mid-sized tier-two status globally.

This expansion follows Rusal’s existing bauxite operations in Guinea. However, the company’s African footprint remains mixed, as its Aluminium Smelter Company of Nigeria (ALSCON) has remained idle since 2013 due to legal disputes and energy supply challenges.