The Ghanaian government has unveiled plans for a US$450M joint venture (JV) manganese refinery project involving the Ghana Manganese Company (GMC) and Ningxia Tianyuan Manganese Industry Group (TMI)

During the State of the Nation Address (SONA), President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo announced the intention to construct a manganese ore refinery near GMC's Nsuta mine in Ghana's Western region. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to add value to green minerals, particularly manganese, essential for manufacturing batteries used in EVs.

In 2023, Ghana was the fourth-largest global producer of manganese ore, exporting over 4Mt. Notably, the country lacks refining capacity, with 95% of its ore being exported to China. The potential to extract additional value from its resources is contingent upon infrastructure investments from industry players, such as TMI.

Ningxia Tianyuan Manganese Industry, a diversified industrial group involved in ore mining, metallurgy, and chemicals, holds a significant share in Consmin, overseeing the Nsuta mine in Ghana and the Woodie Woodie mine in Australia. TMI stands as the largest manganese metal producer and has plans to establish a 1Mt HP MSM production line in China.

While specific details regarding the plant's intended production remain undisclosed, TMI's involvement in both the EV battery and alloy sectors suggests a strategic investment in its current supply chain. This positions GMC to potentially develop a production line with a lower carbon footprint, aligning with the government's broader objectives for a green transition.