Ghana is planning to find a strategic partner to assist in revamping the government-owned Volta Aluminum Company (VALCO)’s aluminum smelter, aiming to create an integrated aluminum industry in the country with its abundant reserves of bauxite.

Samuel Jinapor, the Minister of Land and Natural Resources of Ghana, said that Ghana must have its own exploration, prospecting, mining, refining, smelting, and the downstream industry.

However, Jinapor didn’t give details on how much investment should the government get from the strategic partner for the smelter revamp.