The Madison Integrated Aluminum project presents the largest single procurement opportunity for the German mechanical engineering industry in Africa
19.01.2026On the invitation of the German embassy Ghana, the VDMA Mining & Minerals represented by Dr. Chux Onaa, participated in the Ghanaian-leg of Federal President, Dr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier’s three-nation state visit, celebrating 50 years of historic German-Ghanaian development cooperation and highlighting Ghana’s stability and Germany’s partnership in economic growth.
Dr. M. C Vasnani, President, Ghanaian German Economic Association (GGEA); Yaw Addae-Wusu, CEO, Madison Alumina Ghana; Federal President Dr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Dr. Chux Onaa, VDMA Mining & Minerals; Jacob Meins, Chief Commercial Officer, RWE Supply & Trading GmbH; Frederik Landshöft, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Ghana
© German Embassy, Ghana
The Madison Alumina Ghana US$12 Billion Integrated Greenfield Aluminum Project was spotlighted as a transformative industrial complex, with VDMA Mining & Minerals playing a strategic role in delivering top-tier German engineering led by VDMA mining and mineral processing OEMs and technology suppliers. The project which is designed as a clean-energy, zero-waste industrial ecosystem, creating over 2.3 million direct and indirect jobs and contributing 4 % – 6 % annually to Ghana’s GDP will establish Ghana’s first full value-chain from bauxite mining to alumina refining and primary aluminum smelting.
Sustainability and innovation at the heart
The vertically integrated industrial complex encompasses: a 5GW state-of-the-arts Solar power plant, a 1.0 Mt/a Aluminum smelter, a 2.6 Mt/a Alumina refinery, a 150 000 t/a Caustic soda plant, a 133 000 t/a chlorine production, a 600 000 t/a Salt production plant and a 2.5 Mt/a cement plant utilizing red mud from Alumina refinery. According to Madison Alumina, the project will generate about 50 000 direct jobs across the verticals while positioning Ghana as Africa’s largest low-carbon green aluminum hub.
Strategic opportunities for German companies
The Madison Alumina Industrial Complex represents over US$ 12 billion in capital expenditure, with about 90 % of the core packages to be awarded to German and other European technology suppliers. This will directly benefit the German economy through:
- Engineering & Design by deploying German engineering teams and project managers for multi-year design and supervision assignments
- Technology & Process Plants by delivering turnkey plants and machinery, engaging German engineers, technologists, and commissioning specialists
- Mining & Power Operations by designing, building and operating the bauxite mine as well as a 5 GW solar power plant, employing German mining engineers, power system designers, and control system integrators
- Equipment Manufacturing through the supply of heavy-duty equipment and trucks, sustaining thousands of industrial jobs in their German production facilities and supply chains
- Finance & Insurance through Euler Hermes and German banks that will provide export credit and banking services, generating high-value financial sector jobs and revenues
Key German partners include: RWE group, Inros Lackner SE, VW group, INZAG Germany GmbH, Thyssenkrupp Polysius, Thyssenkrupp Nucera, Wirtgen GmbH, Dockweiler Chemicals GmbH, Liebherr AG, Straberg SE, Raachsolar GmbH, Innovathem GmbH, Reel Möller GmbH and Euler Hermes.
