The Volta Aluminium Company (VALCO) has announced plans to significantly expand its production capacity, targeting the reactivation of idle cells from 122 to 200 and boosting output from the current 23% to 40% of full capacity.
Speaking after a tour of the plant with members of the Board of Directors on Monday, January 5, 2026, Chief Executive Officer Dr. Robert Makila Sambian said the company has already brought eight additional cells online since taking over less than a year ago. He revealed that the short-term expansion plan will see the remaining 78 cells gradually reactivated, making both port lines fully operational.
“We have increased the number of operational cells from 114 to 122 and are steadily working to bring the remaining 78 cells online,” Dr. Sambian said. “This will allow extra volumes to pass through our value-added production lines, enhancing efficiency and output.”
VALCO, which was established in 1964 and became operational in 1967, originally had a production capacity of 200,000 tons of primary aluminium annually. The facility maintained this output for more than three decades until Kaiser Aluminium and Chemical Corporation, the largest shareholder, exited in 2005, handing full control to the government of Ghana.
However, production had already declined before the takeover, mainly due to recurring power shortages. As a result, VALCO has operated at about 23% capacity over the past 15 years. The current expansion aims not only to restore output but also to create approximately 25,000 jobs and generate over $1 billion in annual revenue once full capacity is reached.
Dr. Sambian emphasized that the expansion will be implemented gradually, with all port lines expected to become fully operational in the near future, positioning VALCO as a key driver of industrial growth and employment in the country.
