Chalco selects Rizhao Port as the operator of Boffa Port project in Guinea

China’s Rizhao Port Group is reportedly chosen by Aluminium Corporation of China (Chalco) as the operator of the Boffa Port project in Guinea.

The Boffa Port, part of the Boffa bauxite project, has a capacity of handling 12 million tonnes of bauxite per year. The port is expected to commence its operations in December this year.

In June 2018, Chalco had signed an agreement with the government of Guinea to develop the Boffa bauxite project in the west of the country. The company was granted mining licenses for 15 years and renewable for next 15 years on expiry.

For hauling bauxite from Guinea to China, Chalco had proferred a long-term shipping contract to the Chinese state-run shipping giant China Ocean Shipping Company, popularly known as COSCO or COSCO Group. Chalco already ordered a total of sixteen 210,000dwt newcastlemax bulkers at domestic yards for the project and would most likely order more in the future.

Last year, Rizhao Port also set up a 50/50 joint venture with Cosco Shipping Logitics to integrate all logistics businesses at the port.