Coup in Guinea: Moscow hopes Russian business interests won't suffer; China may turn to Australia for bauxite fearing global supply disruptions

On 7th September 2021, the Russian Govt. said it is strictly following the political situation in Guinea following a military coup there and hopes that the Russian business interests in the West African nation would go through hardship.

The comments came a day after Russian aluminium giant Rusal said it pursues to keep its three major bauxite mines and one alumina refinery in Guinea operating after the military coup there but could evacuate all Russian personnel if the crisis worsened.

Dmitry Peskov, the govt. spokesperson, said: “Moscow so far did not plan to offer Rusal any financial support.”

Russia has long historic relations with Guinea that goes back to trade and economic cooperation during the Soviet era, and presently, focused mainly on the metals business.

Rusal, one of the leading aluminium producers, has a big presence in Guinea's bauxite industry with its mines accounting for 42% of Rusal's total bauxite capacity.

China has emerged as a global economic superpower in recent decades and it is both a producer and major consumer of aluminium, could whirl to Australia for additional supplies of aluminium ore following the coup in Guinea threatened to disrupt global supply, as reported by industry experts.

Australia and Guinea are the world’s leading bauxite producers, while the military unit seizing power in Guinea has elevated the risk of obstructions to production capacity and supply chains.