The Volta Aluminium Company Limited (VALCO) has showcased a major industrial milestone with the commercial operation of its first-ever value-addition production line, transitioning the historic Tema smelter from a raw metal producer into an advanced manufacturer for domestic and international markets.
The presentation was delivered on November 3, 2026, by the Chief Executive Officer of VALCO, Dr. Robert Makila Sambian, during the Progress Series organized by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to highlight developments across Ghana’s industrial sectors.
The initiative aligns directly with President John Dramani Mahama’s agenda to promote value addition, domestic processing, and industrial transformation over the export of unrefined raw materials.
The installation of the Continuous Casting and Rolling (CCR) Electrical Grade Rod Mill enables VALCO to process primary liquid aluminium directly into high-grade electrical rods, serving both local manufacturers and foreign buyers.
Addressing the forum on VALCO’s commercial reach, Dr. Sambian highlighted the market impact of the new production line.
“Through the operationalization of the CCR rod mill, VALCO is no longer merely an exporter of primary metal. We are supplying high-grade electrical rods to fuel Ghana’s domestic power and construction sectors while simultaneously fulfilling orders for European export markets. This dual-market focus strengthens our foreign exchange earnings and positions Ghana as a competitive player across the global aluminium value chain,” Dr. Sambian said.
The introduction of the CCR rod mill has also transformed VALCO’s operational work structure to support continuous 24-hour manufacturing through a 1:4:4 shift system where every operational role is staffed by four workers across four rotating shifts.
Dr. Sambian emphasized the labor and operational benefits of the new shift framework.
“The 1:4:4 shift system is a vital operational model for the CCR plant. Running a 24-hour continuous casting process requires absolute consistency, and assigning four dedicated personnel to every role across four rotating shifts allows us to maintain non-stop production while prioritizing worker safety, mitigating fatigue, and directly expanding stable job opportunities for our workforce,” he noted.
Driven by the rollout of the value-addition line and retooling efforts across the plant, VALCO’s overall workforce grew to 848 employees by October 2026, up from 785 in December 2025.
Management projects that fully restoring all five potlines alongside expanded downstream manufacturing will scale direct headcount to 1,500 personnel while supporting more than 6,000 indirect jobs nationwide.
To support this expanded production mandate, the company has completed equipment injections into the plant. Recent additions include 16 lift trucks, two payloaders, two melting furnaces, a centrifuge system, mobile crushing equipment, cranes, and dedicated natural gas pipeline infrastructure.
The company has also secured key raw material inputs including 5,000 metric tonnes of imported carbon anodes to sustain the ramp-up of reduction cells toward a target of 150 operating units.
Having stabilized plant operations, VALCO remains on track to close October with 98 active reduction cells online, establishing a solid foundation for long-term growth across Ghana’s integrated aluminium value chain.
