The Volta Aluminium Company Limited (VALCO) has begun commercial operations on its first-ever value-addition production line, marking a major step in its efforts to transform the Tema-based smelter from a producer of raw aluminium into a manufacturer of finished industrial products for local and international markets.
The development was announced on November 3, 2026, by VALCO’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr Robert Makila Sambian, during the Progress Series organised by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to showcase progress in Ghana’s industrial sector.
The move supports President John Dramani Mahama’s push for local processing, value addition and industrial development rather than exporting raw materials without processing them.
At the centre of the development is the newly installed Continuous Casting and Rolling (CCR) Electrical Grade Rod Mill. The equipment allows VALCO to turn liquid aluminium directly into high-quality electrical rods for local manufacturers and international buyers.
Speaking about the company’s growing market reach, Dr Sambian said the new production line would allow VALCO to serve both local and overseas markets.
“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,” he said.
The new production line has also changed how VALCO organises its workforce, with the company introducing a 1:4:4 shift system to support round-the-clock operations.
Under the arrangement, four workers are assigned to each operational position across four rotating shifts, allowing the plant to maintain continuous production without placing excessive pressure on individual workers.
Dr Sambian said the system would help maintain steady production, improve workplace safety and create more stable employment opportunities.
“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 explained.
VALCO’s workforce has also grown as the company expands production and upgrades its facilities. By October 2026, the company had employed 848 people, up from 785 in December 2025.
Management expects the workforce to grow further as it works towards restoring all five potlines and expanding its downstream manufacturing operations. The company projects that these efforts could increase direct employment to 1,500 people while creating more than 6,000 indirect jobs across the country.
To support the expansion, VALCO has added several pieces of equipment to its operations. These 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 5,000 metric tonnes of imported carbon anodes, an important raw material needed to support the expansion of its reduction cells towards a target of 150 operational units.
With operations stabilising, VALCO expects to end October with 98 active reduction cells, providing a stronger foundation for increased production and further growth in Ghana’s aluminium industry.
