Estimated at $300,000, the new equipment is expected to help increase the production of carbon anodes, a major input for the primary aluminium manufacturing process.
A steam boiler is used primarily in the production of green anodes, an integral part of the aluminium smelting process.
It is equipped with an economiser to improve fuel efficiency and also has a dual fuel burner for Residual Fuel Oil (RFO) and natural gas which will facilitate the transition to natural gas usage.
The Chief Executive Officer of VALCO, Daniel Nii Kwartei Titus Glover, speaking at a brief ceremony in Tema last Friday, (March 8) said the installation of the new steam boiler, which had been named after the former CEO of the company, Daniel Acheampong, would boost efficiency and reliability of the processing plant.
“With the new boiler, VALCO is now positioned to increase carbon anode production capacity in preparation for the ramp-up of our operating cells this year,” he said.
He explained that with the new boiler coming on board, VALCO had now increased its mixers from five to eight adding that management had put in place mechanisms to retrofit the extra two mixers to bring to 10 the original number of mixers for use in the aluminium smelting processes at the plant.
Mr Titus Glover said it had become necessary to get a new steam boiler because what was being used had outlived its efficiency as of February 2023, the tubes of the only functioning boiler got damaged leaving the smelter with no operating boiler.
He explained that when he assumed office as CEO of VALCO in August 2023, his predecessor, Mr Acheampong and the board had already granted approval and made a 30 per cent payment for a new steam boiler.
He said the boiler arrived at VALCO in December 2023 and installation was completed by January 31, 2024, and “so far, the facility has been running efficiently,” he stated and further said having installed the equipment, plans had also been put in place to retrofit and modernise the plant to increase production from the current 50,000 to 300,000 tonnes of aluminium per annum.
via: https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/ghana-news-valco-gets-new-boiler-to-enhance-operations.html
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