Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama met with Russian President Vladimir Putin for bilateral talks in Moscow, a day after the Russia-Africa summit. The meeting comes as Ghana seeks to diversify its energy mix and secure its power grid. President Mahama stated that Ghana is pursuing a diversified energy mix to ensure a stable power supply. This move is part of Ghana's efforts to boost its energy sector and reduce reliance on traditional energy sources.
Ghana has initiated discussions with Russia's State Nuclear Energy Corporation, Rosatom, to establish the country's first nuclear power station. The talks are aimed at exploring the possibility of constructing a nuclear power plant in Ghana. This development is significant, as Ghana is one of the fastest-growing economies in West Africa and needs a reliable energy supply to sustain its growth. A nuclear power plant would provide a stable source of electricity for the country.
On the sidelines of the Russia-Africa summit, Russian metals giant Rusal signed a deal with Ghana to develop a bauxite mine with over 100 million tonnes of deposits. The deal is part of Moscow's efforts to strengthen ties with Africa. Rusal will launch joint ventures with the Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC) to mine bauxite in Ghana. The mining project will be implemented in two phases, with the first phase focusing on bauxite mining.
The bauxite mining project will be carried out at the Nyinahin deposit in the Ashanti Region of southwestern Ghana. Rusal estimates that the deposit has over 100 million tonnes of bauxite, a key mineral used in aluminium production. The company will receive a majority stake in the joint ventures, Nyinahin Bauxite and Ghana Alumina Company. The second phase of the project involves the construction of an alumina refinery with an annual capacity of 1.2 million tonnes.
Ghana is a significant exporter of gold, cocoa, and oil, and the bauxite mining project is expected to boost the country's aluminium production. The project will create jobs and contribute to Ghana's economic growth. Rusal is one of the world's largest aluminium producers, and its partnership with Ghana is seen as a strategic move to expand its operations in Africa.
Moscow has a long history of courting African countries, dating back to the Soviet era. The Russia-Africa summit is part of Russia's efforts to strengthen its ties with the continent and counterbalance Western influence. Ghana has recently announced its intention to join the BRICS, a group of emerging economies that includes Brazil, Russia, India, and China. Russia has expressed support for Ghana's application to join the BRICS.
The Russia-Ghana talks also come at a time when Moscow is grappling with heavy Western sanctions over its war in Ukraine. The summit provides a platform for Russia to engage with African countries and promote its interests. For Ghana, the talks offer an opportunity to secure new partnerships and investments to boost its economy. The two countries are expected to explore further cooperation in various sectors, including energy and trade.
Key points
- Ghana in talks with Russia's Rosatom to build its first nuclear power plant
- Rusal signs deal with Ghana to develop bauxite mine with over 100 million tonnes of deposits
- Ghana seeks to join BRICS, with Russia expressing support for its application
