Arrow Minerals, the West Africa-focused bauxite explorer, has announced that it's putting a hold on operations at its Niagara bauxite project in Guinea. The reason is the ongoing dispute about whether its mining permits are valid. The Australian miner reported this in its September 8 half-year update.
The Guinean military-led government annulled 129 mineral exploration licenses to reclaim inactive permits and transfer rights to more active investors. The licenses were cancelled without prior discussion to tighten government control over resources.
The move may shut down idle projects, cause losses for inactive license holders, and shift the regional mining investment landscape, creating opportunities for operators that actively engage and meet local development expectations.
First EGA, then who?
EGA has officially halted all bauxite mining operations in Guinea after the government decided to take over its mining assets. The Guinea Alumina Corporation (GAC) mining concession, which is estimated to contain about 400 million tonnes of bauxite, was revoked as of August 6, 2025, due to claims of not following national mining regulations. This concession has now been handed over to a state-backed entity without any compensation. This move is likely to cause a major disruption in the global bauxite supply chain and create significant risks for stakeholders who rely on EGA's output from Guinea.
Now, Arrow Minerals is on the same path
In the first six months of 2025, Arrow Minerals advanced exploration and development at its Niagara and Simandou North projects. Drilling at Niagara has confirmed the presence of high-grade mineralisation, which is promising enough to support a maiden mineral resource. A scoping study by SRK Consulting has been completed, but the results will only be shared once the permit status is clarified.
Responses
