Guinea Alumina Corporation announces its first export of bauxite ore

Guinea Alumina Corporation (GAC) announced on August 4 that its first ship loaded with metallurgical-grade bauxite sailed from transhipment location near the company’s port in Kamsar to world markets. This marks the first bauxite ore exports from GAC and the beginning of commercial production for one of Guinea’s most important mining projects.

The GAC project, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), is one of the largest greenfield investments in Guinea in the last 40 years, worth $1.4 billion.

GAC’s Director General, Aissata Beavogui, said: “I am proud to announce that we did it as promised, on budget, on time, safely and responsibly. This is a great day for GAC and our employees, and a great day for Guinea.”

She also said: “Our first export of bauxite marks the start of decades of production, and we can now set our eyes on becoming a reliable world-class bauxite producer that delivers value for our shareholder and our country.”

Abdulla Kalban, Chairman of GAC and Managing Director & CEO of EGA, said: “GAC first export of bauxite ore is a landmark moment for EGA and for Guinea. For EGA, it completes our strategic expansion upstream, making us an integrated global aluminium producer. For Guinea, the project creates economic opportunity and helps the country to expand the production of its biggest natural resource.”

This project has created around 1,000 permanent jobs in Guinea, investing more than $1.3 billion on GAC skills, a programme to develop high potential Guineans for permanent roles in the organisation.

GAC expects to create a direct, indirect and induced economic impact of some $700 million each year in Guinea, a 5.5 per cent boost to the national economy, once the production at the project reaches its full capacity.