Construction of second alumina refinery planned in Guinea

Guinea Signs Deal with Emirates Global Aluminium for New Alumina Refinery

Guinea has recently announced a preliminary agreement with Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) to construct the country’s second alumina refinery. The project, valued at approximately 4 billion U.S. dollars, aims to bolster Guinea’s value-added capabilities for its abundant bauxite resources.

According to reports from Reuters, EGA, operating through its subsidiary Guinea Alumina Corporation (GAC), is set to complete the 2 million-ton capacity refinery by 2026, with an initial annual production target of 1.2 million tons. This move comes as Guinea, known as Africa’s leading bauxite producer, looks to refine the raw material into alumina, a more profitable product, in order to drive economic development.

The forthcoming refinery will supplement the operations of the existing Friguia refinery, which is owned by Russia’s Rusal. This strategic move aligns with Guinea’s overarching strategy to encourage mining companies to invest in local processing facilities, promoting economic growth and value addition within the country.

This new development signals promising opportunities for Guinea’s mining sector and underscores the nation’s commitment to leveraging its natural resources for sustainable economic advancement.