Ghana Manganese Company (GMC) is targeting its highest monthly production this year, with plans to produce 700,000 tonnes of manganese in August as improved weather conditions and new mining equipment boost operations at its Nsuta mine in the Western Region.
In a statement signed by the company’s Deputy Managing Director, Sun Yuanwei, GMC described the projected output as a major milestone in its efforts to achieve its 8 million tonne production target for 2026.
The company said production was affected between May and July due to heavy rainfall, which disrupted mining, haulage, and processing activities at the Nsuta open-pit mine.
As Ghana’s only manganese mining and exporting company, GMC noted that the rainy season often slows operations because of difficult working conditions at the mine.
However, with rainfall easing in August, the company expects a significant improvement in production.
“Entering August, however, rainfall has decreased markedly, significantly improving pit conditions,” the statement said.
According to Ghana Manganese Company, the improved weather coincides with the deployment of a new fleet of high-efficiency mining equipment designed to increase productivity.
Management believes the new machinery will enable the company to maintain higher production levels throughout the second half of the year while improving operational efficiency.
The company expressed confidence that these improvements would help it stay on course to meet its annual production target.
“With August production approaching 700,000 tonnes, overall operational performance in the second half of the year will improve significantly,” GMC stated.
Manganese has been mined at Nsuta for nearly a century and remains an important raw material in global steel production. In recent years, demand for the mineral has also grown because of its use in electric vehicle batteries and other clean energy technologies.
GMC said increasing production would not only help meet rising international demand but also support the government’s plans to establish a local manganese refinery in Ghana.
The company believes the refinery would create employment opportunities, add value to Ghana’s mineral resources, and strengthen the country’s mining sector.
As operations gather momentum, Ghana Manganese Company says it will continue monitoring weather conditions while maximizing the use of its new equipment to achieve its production goals for the year.
By : Rachael Djabakie