GAC receives Guinea's first ASI Certification for bauxite mining

Guinea Alumina Corporation SA (GAC), the bauxite mining subsidiary of Emirates Global Aluminium, has acquired Performance Standard V2 (2017) Certification from the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative. It represents the first Guinean entity to receive ASI Certification.

As per the report, GAC has bagged the certification for bauxite mining operations (including camps and facilities) near Sangarédi, port operations for bauxite export at Kamsar, rail operations between its facilities and the main rail line, and a biodiversity offset site.

Last year, GAC exported 14 million wet tonnes of bauxite, making EGA one of the world's largest merchant suppliers of the mineral.

The ASI Performance Standard V2 (2017) defines environmental, social and governance principles and criteria, aimining to address sustainability issues in the aluminium value chain.

Congratulating GAC, Fiona Solomon, Chief Executive Officer at ASI, said: "The vision of the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative is to maximise the contribution of aluminium to a sustainable society, by fostering responsible production, sourcing and stewardship. Guinea plays an important role in the global aluminium value chain, and is a country where the industry's commitment to sustainability is tested. We congratulate Emirates Global Aluminium and its subsidiary Guinea Alumina Corporation for achieving this first ASI Performance Standard Certification in Guinea, and for their commitment to pursue responsible bauxite mining practices in this challenging setting."

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer at Emirates Global Aluminium, said: "EGA aims to be a global sustainability leader for the aluminium industry, helping ensure that aluminium reaches its full potential to contribute to human progress. Guinea is a developing country, which makes sustainability an essential priority in our local business. ASI Performance Standard certification provides an independent and public verification of both what we do well and where we can continuously improve, such as in our relationships with local communities. I am proud that an EGA company has achieved the first Aluminium Stewardship Initiative certification in Guinea, and hope that other bauxite mining companies in the country will follow our lead."

The independent, third-party audit of the GAC operations was carried out by BM Trada.