Rusal train derailment in Guinea halts alumina exports, sources say
2026-08-25 11:02:37 [Print]
A train operated by Russian aluminium producer Rusal derailed in Guinea's Dubreka prefecture over the weekend, severing rail access to its Friguia alumina refinery and bringing alumina exports to a halt while slowing production, according to three sources who spoke to Reuters.
The train, which was carrying alumina, came off the tracks near Kagbelen on Saturday evening, resulting in four injuries and forcing the suspension of rail operations, two company officials confirmed.
A senior official at the Friguia refinery stated that alumina production was continuing at a reduced rate following the accident, though he was unable to quantify the precise impact on output.
Guinea is the world's largest exporter of bauxite, the primary ore used in aluminium production. Rusal operates the country's sole alumina refinery, which has an installed annual capacity of 600,000 metric tons and supplies alumina to the Russian producer's aluminium smelters.
The Friguia refinery, which was shut down in 2012, resumed operations in 2018 and has since produced approximately 450,000 tons of alumina per year, according to the refinery official.
The train, which was carrying alumina, came off the tracks near Kagbelen on Saturday evening, resulting in four injuries and forcing the suspension of rail operations, two company officials confirmed.
A senior official at the Friguia refinery stated that alumina production was continuing at a reduced rate following the accident, though he was unable to quantify the precise impact on output.
Guinea is the world's largest exporter of bauxite, the primary ore used in aluminium production. Rusal operates the country's sole alumina refinery, which has an installed annual capacity of 600,000 metric tons and supplies alumina to the Russian producer's aluminium smelters.
The Friguia refinery, which was shut down in 2012, resumed operations in 2018 and has since produced approximately 450,000 tons of alumina per year, according to the refinery official.
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