The Volta Aluminium Company (VALCO) has announced plans to fully revive two potlines by 2027 as part of a broader effort to restore smelter operations and expand value addition in aluminium production.
Chief Executive Officer of VALCO, Dr Robert Makila Sambian, said the company had made steady progress in stabilising its operations and was gradually scaling up production capacity.
Speaking to the media after a tour of the smelter by members of the Board, Dr Sambian disclosed that VALCO is currently operating 122 cells and is working to re-energise an additional 78 cells.
He said this would enable the two potlines to run at full capacity, significantly improving efficiency and output.
According to him, the operational improvements mark a clear turnaround for the company, which has struggled for years to sustain production.
“At full deployment, the two potlines comprise 200 cells. We are operating 122 cells today and are moving to re-energise the remaining 78,” he said. “This will generate additional volumes to feed into our value-added production line, which we recently inspected.”
Dr Sambian explained that VALCO’s recovery strategy is anchored on four key projects. These include ramping up cell operations to full potline capacity, transforming the business model through value-added aluminium products, switching to natural gas to replace residual fuel oil, and installing scrubbers at the cell lines to recover and reuse fluoride.
He said the environmental control systems would not only reduce VALCO’s environmental footprint but also improve cost competitiveness.
The CEO revealed that the company completed the installation of its value-addition plant in August and has since conducted several successful test production runs.
“We are on a firm path to recovery. By the end of this year, we expect to reach 150 operating cells, a milestone we have not achieved in more than two decades,” he said.
“In 2027, we aim to fully ramp up to 200 cells. At that level, operations will be sustainable and capable of fully covering power and other input costs.”
Meanwhile, Chairman of the Board, Mr Horace Ankrah, reaffirmed the Board’s commitment to supporting management in implementing sound policies and strategic decisions to restore VALCO’s competitiveness.
“We will not seek to manage the company, but we will provide the support needed to ensure VALCO reaches its full potential,” he said.
