Tianyuan Manganese Industry (TMI), the majority shareholder of the Ghana Manganese Company (GMC), has called on the government to double the production cap for its planned Manganese Refinery Plant (MRP) from 5 to 10 million tonnes during the initial phase of the project.

Under Ghana’s new export value-addition policy, the Ghana Manganese Company (GMC), which is 90% owned by TMI, is set to establish a local Manganese Refinery Plant (MRP) aimed at improving the quality of manganese ore from 27% to about 40% manganese content.

While the TMI reaffirmed its support for the Ghana project, it also requested other incentives to ensure feasibility, including "competitive gas pricing at USD 4/MMBtu, tax exemptions on key equipment and services, and income tax incentives during the plant's initial phase."

The Manganese Refinery Plant is intended to produce high-grade manganese products for export, including those used in batteries.

The initiative is expected to create jobs, improve technical skills among Ghanaians, boost foreign exchange earnings and tax revenues, and help grow the local economy.

Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, embarked on a six-day working visit to TMI’s industrial hub in China from June 28 to July 3, 2025.

The visit, held at the invitation of TMI Chairman Jia Tianjiang, aimed at deepening bilateral collaboration around the establishment of Ghana’s first-ever manganese refinery in Nsuta-Tarkwa.

During the visit, Honourable Buah lauded TMI’s operations and sustainability measures and pledged Ghana’s readiness to facilitate the necessary inter-ministerial consultations to address the company's proposals.

“Collaborative efforts like these are essential for driving industrial growth, unlocking value from our minerals, and positioning Ghana as a leader in mineral beneficiation across Africa,” he stated.

The total investment into the refinery is about $450 million. Ghana Manganese Company Ltd. (GMC) is the only manganese producer and exporter in Ghana, with a mining legacy spanning over 103 years.

Operating out of Nsuta in the Western Region of Ghana, GMC holds a long-term mining concession covering 170 square kilometers, of which less than 3% has been mined to date, highlighting vast untapped potential.

In 2022, an estimated volume of 3.2 million metric tons of manganese was produced in Ghana. This was against the 5.4 million metric tons produced in 2019, which was the highest since 2009.

Ghana, which, according to reports, is currently the third-largest producer of manganese in Africa after Gabon and South Africa, seeks to significantly increase its production in 2025