Operations
GBC’s Awaso Mine concession covers an area of 35.5 sq.km, representing 0.3% of the total land area of the Region. Mining operations commenced in 1940 at the Kanayerebo Mine and later moved to the current Mine Pit, the Inchinso Pit in 1969 which is part of the Awaso Group of Hills capped with bauxite deposits on a small plateau 515 meters above sea level.
These Hills extend in an arch from the north of Sefwi – Bekwai to Asawinso in the Western North Region. Five of the hills – Afumba, Boakakhirri, Subri, Inchiniso and Kanayerebo are capped with bauxite. However GBC’s mining lease covers the Subri, Inchiniso, and Kanayerebo Hills representing an area of 29.39km2.
The current mining operation is a drill and blast surface mining operation utilizing earth moving equipment for hauling activities. GBC employs appropriate mining methods with no or minimal social, economic and environmental adverse impacts in its operations. The equipment used meets best mining standards.
The Run of Mine (ROM) annually is at an average of 1.2 million metric tonnes. The 1.2 million metric tonnes raw bauxite ore produced is loaded into 45 cubic metre haulage trucks and hauled via road to the Takoradi Port Facility, which is approximately 240km.
The 1.2 million tonnes of high-grade (typical Al2O3 – 56%) trihydrate bauxite hauled to the port is then shipped to our customers in China, Europe and Africa.
Mine Expansion
GBC has invested in various capital expenditure (CAPEX) projects and is commencing the expansion of the mine and retooling of existing plant and machinery.
With the implementation of this activity, it is expected that annual production should increase from 1.2 million metric tonnes to 5 million metric tonnes given its unique position of producing premium trihydrate bauxite.
The Company’s potential to operate profitably and contribute to Ghana’s export drive is significant. The current management which assumed office in the last quarter of 2021, has made significant strides to ensure its production capacity increases and improves the efficiency of its operations.
To achieve its targeted 5 million metric tonnes annual production, the current management in the last year has taken the following steps:
- – Renewed and Secured a 30-Year Mining Lease effective January 2022;
- – Applied and awaiting approval for two additional hills to be added to its current concession;
- – Commenced prospecting activities on its existing and additional reserves;
- – Explored and secured off-take agreements from new markets for its bauxite sales;
- – Initiated operational and management efficiency measures to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of operations and particularly to minimize losses arising out of discrepancies in production yield;
- – Embarked on the development of a new mining pit; and
- – Initiated discussions with consultants to expand the current stockpile yard at Takoradi port and build a conveyor belt to compliment the port’s 10 million metric tonnes per annum mechanized loading system. With this mechanization system in place, GBC is poised to transport bauxite in excess of 400,000 metric tonnes every month via capsize vessels.
GBC would employ precision surface mining at its new mining pit which is currently under development. As such GBC intends to add to its fleet of machinery two (2) surface miners. The surface miners would extract the bauxite materials reliably and selectively via direct loading, side casting, or cut-to-ground methods.
The raw bauxite extracted by the surface miner would be immediately crashed in a single operation without the need for any drilling or blasting.
With the addition of the surface miner to GBC’s mining fleet the ROM would be in excess of 5 million metric tonnes.
Infrastructure
Port
The recent completion of the Takoradi Port expansion by the Ghana Ports and Habour Authority (GPHA) would ensure that Ghana Bauxite Company Limited (GBC) meet its projected volumes of 5 million tonnes per annum.
With the current mechanised bauxite handling system at the Takoradi Port, GBC would be able to load 2,500 tonnes / hr directly to the vessel. With this mechanization system in place, GBC is poised to transport bauxite in excess of 400,000 metric tonnes every month via capsize vessels.