Construction of EGA’s bauxite mining project in Guinea reaches 75 per cent

The construction of Emirates Global Aluminium’s (EGA) bauxite mining project in the Republic of Guinea has reached almost 75 per cent, reported the company itself. Developed by EGA’s subsidiary Guinea Alumina Corp (GAC), the total budget of the project is around US$1.4 billion, the largest greenfield investment in the West African country in the last four decades. The first bauxite export from this project is expected during the second half of 2019.

Currently, almost 3,000 Guineans are working for constructing the project, and so far taken some 23 million man-hours of work, equivalent to one person working for some 18,000 years.

Abdulla Kalban, EGA’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, said: “We are now entering the final phase of construction of our project in Guinea and the team in Guinea is focused on achieving ‘First Ore On Ship’ safely, responsibly, on time and on budget. Whilst construction continues, work is also progressing well on preparations to operate the mine and export facilities efficiently for the benefit of Guinea and EGA for decades ahead.”

Guinea is the world’s bauxite resource holder. The project, when completed, will expectedly contribute to Guinea’s exports of the ore, producing some 12 million tonnes of bauxite in a year.

This Guinea project is part of EGA’s strategic drive to expand its business upstream and internationally, building on the company’s decades-long heritage in aluminium smelting in the UAE. In addition, EGA is also building the UAE’s first alumina refinery in Abu Dhabi.