Electrochem builds 70 pans for 7 towns for artisanal salt mining

Electrochem Ghana Limited, a subsidiary of the McDan Group, has successfully constructed over 70 community pans across seven communities in a significant step towards sustainable artisanal mining.

Communities such as Nakomkope, Adjumanikope, and Agbedrafor, where mining commenced last season, are already benefiting from the community pans.

These pans, now filled with mature brine (saltwater), will crystallize into top-quality salt for community members to harvest.

Moreover, ongoing construction of pans in Bonikope, Toflokpo, and Matsekope is at various stages of completion, demonstrating Electrochem’s dedication to its responsibility as a corporate entity.

The initiative is part of the company’s commitment to allocating portions of its 41,000-acre concession for responsible and legal artisanal mining practices.

The primary objective behind this initiative is to safeguard the livelihoods of artisanal miners, ensuring they have a sustainable means of income without resorting to illegal mining activities.

The illegal salt mining, locally known as Atsiakpo, had previously caused extensive damage to the Ada Songhor Lagoon.

Electrochem, registered in 2017, secured a 15-year lease for the Ada Songor Salt concession, which had been left to deteriorate due to mismanagement by previous interim management committees appointed by successive government administrations.

Electrochem emphasizes that the construction of these pans is a topmost priority for the company.

The project has garnered widespread support from the beneficiary communities, where residents express their appreciation for the initiative, highlighting that they do not bear any financial burden for the construction or refilling of the pans after harvest.

Beyond the positive impact on artisanal mining, Electrochem’s restoration efforts have led to the revival of the Ada Songor Lagoon.

More than 300 fishermen in the beneficiary communities now derive their livelihoods from the lagoon, marking a significant turnaround in the economic prospects of the area.

As a responsible corporate entity, Electrochem reaffirms its commitment to the wellbeing of the citizenry and the overall development of the Ada states.

The company’s multi-faceted approach, addressing both environmental and economic concerns, is poised to create a sustainable model for artisanal mining and community development in the region.

Ghana is now poised to export salt to Nigeria and other countries.

Industry experts project that the size of the global salt market will grow from $34.1 billion in 2023 to $48.6 billion by 2030.

Electrochem Ghana Ltd has been granted a 15-year mining lease for the commercial production of salt.

The use of salt for industrial, human and animal consumption purposes made it a highly strategic resource, which required significant investments to harness its commercial viability.

Electrochem, the operators of the salt mine, is a subsidiary of the McDan Group of Companies and a wholly Ghanaian owned company.

The Company was registered in 2017 and has secured the concession of 41,000 acres at Ada Songor.

The Mine currently has the ability to produce some 650,000 metric tons of salt per annum and currently producing at 99.99% purity.

In the medium term, the output will be increased substantially and part of it used to feed a chlor-alkali plant to produce caustic soda and other chemical products.

It is expected to increase its productive capacity to one million metric tons in 2024, and to two million metric tons by 2027, thereby becoming the biggest salt producing facility in Africa.

So far, some $88 million has been invested into the ultra-modern project, which covers the provision of a salt washing plant and its ancillary infrastructure and facilities.

Electrochem intends to build a world-class salt refinery and a chemical research university in Ada as part of the project.

The eventual goal is to provide 7,000 direct jobs to the residents of the area, with 3,000 already employed following the completion of the first phase of the project.

The company intends to construct a port two kilometers away from the salt mine to alleviate the strain that carrying the salt will place on highways.

The facilities include an astro turf football field, roads, scholarships, health clinics, schools, and potable water for the communities.

Electrochem Salt Mine is an example of what government policy backed by strong private sector participation could accomplish.