On 6th December 2021, Guinea Alumina Corporation, the wholly-owned subsidiary of Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) publicized that it has awarded a crucial mining contract to a Guinean firm GPC, as the metallurgical-grade bauxite export company aspires to expand its contribution to the economy of the Republic of Guinea.
The contract accorded to Guinéenne de Prestation et de Construction (GPC Group) is presumed to be one of the largest ever to a fully-local mining contractor, which has a value of worth over $34 million over the next 16 months.
Following the bagging of the contract, Guinéenne de Prestation et de Construction anticipates expanding its workforce by 57 people to over 300.
EGA targets twofold contribution to the economy in the nations where it functionalizes – the United Arab Emirates and Guinea by 2040. However, this will be attained by mushrooming EGA’s own business, increasing local procurement and localising employment. In the UAE, EGA also sells aluminium to local customer companies creating further economic value.
Since 2020, GPC has proffered civil engineering services to GAC and the above-mentioned contract is the company’s first in mining services. Guinéenne de Prestation et de Construction will be accountable for mining and crushing bauxite ore and moving it to GAC’s railhead. Like all contractors on GAC sites, Guinéenne de Prestation et de Construction will work to GAC’s safety requirements and under the supervision of GAC’s contractor management team which comprises safety experts.
Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, the Chief Executive Officer of EGA, said: “This is an important contract award to a Guinean company, which will directly grow our contribution to the Guinean economy as well as building local capability in the mining supply chain. Driving sustainable economic growth is one way we fulfil our purpose of innovating aluminium to make modern life possible.”
Kaba Amadou, President and Chief Executive Officer of Guinéenne de Prestation et de Construction, said: “I thank GAC for their trust in us as we expand our business into contract mining. Our commitment is to deliver tonnes to GAC safely, efficiently, and on specification. Mining is an important sector in our economy. We must grow businesses in the mining supply chain if we are to capture the full benefits of this sector for the Guinean people.”
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