- Ministry of Trade plans talks with scrap metal exporters on mandating local sales of non-ferrous scrap
- Recyclers Ghana Limited urges a ban on non-ferrous scrap exports, citing $250 million annual foreign exchange loss
- Deputy Minister Sampson Ahi to hold stakeholder meeting to explore sustainable supply
The Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry is preparing to engage with scrap metal exporters to consider the possibility of requiring them to sell a portion of non-ferrous scrap to local processors.
This initiative comes after strong advocacy by Recyclers Ghana Limited, which has called for a ban on exporting non-ferrous scrap metals. Manesh Kumar Jangir, Director of Recyclers Ghana Limited, revealed that the company is currently operating below its full capacity.
He highlighted that the ongoing export of raw non-ferrous scrap metal results in an estimated annual loss of $250 million in potential foreign exchange earnings.
Jangir emphasized that increasing the company’s operational capacity would boost revenue and create additional job opportunities.
Following a visit to the company, Deputy Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Sampson Ahi, stated that the Ministry will consult with industry stakeholders to explore ways to ensure a sustainable supply for local recyclers. This could include mandating that a percentage of scrap be allocated for domestic processing.
“If you compare the factory’s capacity to the amount of raw materials they receive, there is a clear shortfall. This is why they are urging the government to take action regarding scrap exports,” the deputy minister said.
He added, “I have arranged a meeting on Monday with exporters and other stakeholders. We will discuss whether they can sell a portion of their exports locally for processing. We want to find a balanced solution through dialogue.”
