40
Achieving global
sustainability starts in Africa
‘Only about 1% of the world’s recycled metals comes from the African continent,’
says Raymond Onovwigun, ceo of Romco Metals. His company is hoping to boost
that figure with a new recycling plant in Ghana and he has ambitious plans for
expansion.
Seeing his ideas come to fruition after
seven years of planning and investing
is incredibly rewarding. ‘Being able to
support more than 300 further high-
lights that milestone. We’re not just a
recycling enterprise. We’re a social
enterprise.’
Recycling poweRhouse
By adopting an active approach,
Onovwigun believes Africa can
become a recycling powerhouse. The
proof of the pudding, as they say, is in
the eating: Romco increased its reve-
nue by over 900% during the pan-
demic, has set up a trade hub in
Dubai, and has future plans for eco-
initiatives
Africa is projected to be home to
almost two billion people by 2040. ‘If
we want to realise our climate goals,
we have to significantly increase our
recycling capacity,’ Onovwigun insists.
‘That’s the most effective way to
reduce our greenhouse gas emis-
sions.’ It makes perfect sense to capi-
talise on the abundant presence of
critical metals lying in dusty drawers,
garages and landfills.
According to the Council for Scientific
and Industrial Research, the 55 million
Every quarter, Romco Metals recycles
more than 5 000 tonnes of non-ferrous
scrap, mostly aluminium and copper,
shipping it around the world to well-
known companies including major
automotive manufacturers, and
American metals giant Alcoa. The
company is headquartered in London
and its sites in Ghana and Nigeria
have a processing capacity of approxi-
mately 1 500 tonnes per month.
Ceo Raymond Onovwigun proudly
states that one site can process the
equivalent of 34 Olympic size swim-
ming pools full of scrap annually.
Ahead of the UN Climate Change
Conference in November, the
UK-based entrepreneur is eager to
point out that the biggest gap in sus-
tainable infrastructure is the lack of a
circular economy in Africa. While
Africa represents a fifth of the world’s
population, its recycling industry is in
its infancy. ‘But we have solutions,’
Onovwigun says with great enthusi-
asm. ‘That’s why we’re expanding our
recycling activities throughout Africa
in those areas where it’s needed most.
In the process of doing so, we’re add-
ing hundreds of jobs.’
A u t H O R Kirstin Linnenkoper
Romco Metals has grown into a multinational employing almost 250 people in three
countries.
40-41-42-43_romco.indd 40 16-09-21 09:17
