Guinea picks Glencore as offtaker for state-owned bauxite miner
2026-08-10 15:00:00 [Print]
Guinea has selected Glencore as the off-taker for bauxite produced by its state-owned mining company, Nimba Mining Co., as part of a broader effort by the West African nation to tighten oversight of aluminum feedstock exports.
The selection followed an international tender process, according to Mines and Geology Minister Bouna Sylla, who spoke with reporters in the capital, Conakry.
"Negotiations to finalize the contract terms are ongoing," Sylla said. Although Nimba Mining Co. remains fully state-owned, he added that "the goal is to transform it into a mining champion." A Glencore representative declined to comment.
Nimba Mining Co. assumed control of the bauxite concession previously held by Guinea Alumina Corp.-a subsidiary of Dubai-based Emirates Global Aluminium-last August, following a dispute over the construction of an alumina refinery. The company has already exported 4 million tons of bauxite this year and plans to increase annual output to 8–10 million tons, with a further target of 12 million tons in 2027, Sylla noted.
As the world's largest bauxite exporter, Guinea shipped 183 million tons of the ore last year, meeting a significant portion of China's demand. In March, the government indicated it was in talks with miners regarding potential measures to regulate market supply volumes and shield the country from price volatility.
Earlier this week, Nimba Mining Co. formalized its bauxite mining agreement with the government. According to Sylla, the company is also branching into new areas, including iron ore, gold, and metal refining.
The selection followed an international tender process, according to Mines and Geology Minister Bouna Sylla, who spoke with reporters in the capital, Conakry.
"Negotiations to finalize the contract terms are ongoing," Sylla said. Although Nimba Mining Co. remains fully state-owned, he added that "the goal is to transform it into a mining champion." A Glencore representative declined to comment.
Nimba Mining Co. assumed control of the bauxite concession previously held by Guinea Alumina Corp.-a subsidiary of Dubai-based Emirates Global Aluminium-last August, following a dispute over the construction of an alumina refinery. The company has already exported 4 million tons of bauxite this year and plans to increase annual output to 8–10 million tons, with a further target of 12 million tons in 2027, Sylla noted.
As the world's largest bauxite exporter, Guinea shipped 183 million tons of the ore last year, meeting a significant portion of China's demand. In March, the government indicated it was in talks with miners regarding potential measures to regulate market supply volumes and shield the country from price volatility.
Earlier this week, Nimba Mining Co. formalized its bauxite mining agreement with the government. According to Sylla, the company is also branching into new areas, including iron ore, gold, and metal refining.
Bauxite 60%min, Al/Si 5.0, Ex-VAT Delivered China
Unit:RMB/mt
Africa bauxite producers' suspension number statistics by country by month
Unit: pcs
