Guinea: Start of construction work on the alumina refinery in Boffa

The Verga Industrial Park, managed by the State Power Investment Corporation (SPIC), was the scene of a landmark ceremony: the official launch of construction work on the first alumina refinery in the history of independent Guinea. Presided over by Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah, the inauguration was attended by leading figures from the Guinean government, including Djiba Diakité, Chairman of the Strategic Committee of the Sino-Guinean Framework Agreement, General Amara Camara, Minister and Secretary General of the Government, and several other members of the ministerial cabinet.

Located in the sub-prefecture of Doupourou, Boffa prefecture, this large-scale infrastructure is part of an ambitious vision to turn Guinea into a country that transforms its resources locally, thus breaking with its historical status as an exporter of raw materials. Supported by SPIC, a Chinese giant in the mining and energy sector, this structuring project promises to redefine Guinea's economic and industrial landscape.

The Minister of Mines and Geology, Bouna Sylla, outlined the details of this initiative. "The project aims to produce 1.2 million tonnes of aluminium a year. It includes the construction of a 250 MW thermal power plant, 100 MW of which will be fed into the public grid, as well as ancillary infrastructure: ore transport, water reservoirs, red mud storage area and water supply. The existing port will also be upgraded with a 12,000-tonne quay to meet the needs of shipping 15 million tonnes of bauxite and 1.2 million tonnes of aluminium a year", he explained. Located in the 33-hectare Cap-Verga-Bel-Air industrial zone, this refinery marks a decisive step in the country's industrialisation.

Liu Ming Cheung, CEO of SPIC, reaffirmed his company's commitment to Guinea. "We will establish a vocational training centre for Guinean employees and young people from local communities. This project is an opportunity to modernise Guinea alongside the government and industrial partners. We are committed to delivering the second phase on time, with exemplary quality, to transform local resources into a lever for sustainable development," he said. SPIC's ambition is to make this refinery a model of Sino-Guinean cooperation, in line with the "Belt and Road" initiative and the conclusions of the China-Africa Summit in Beijing.

Representing Chairman Mamadi Doumbouya, Djiba Diakité took the opportunity to send a firm message to the mining companies operating in Guinea. "There is no longer any excuse for companies not to build their refineries, as stipulated in the Mining Code. The State will do everything in its power to facilitate these projects, but the industrial partners must honour their commitments. This project is a perfect illustration that local processing is not inevitable", he insisted. The aim of this injunction is to accelerate the creation of a "corridor of prosperity" through the development of Guinean minerals.

Scheduled to come on stream in June 2028 after three years of work, the refinery will generate significant benefits: around 100 million yuan (RMB) in annual tax revenue, 600 direct jobs and thousands of indirect opportunities, as well as a transfer of skills through training and the "Guineanisation" of key positions. Relations with local communities will also be strengthened, with an emphasis on social peace.

This mega-project is part of a wider drive to strengthen economic and technological ties between China and Africa. SPIC plans to step up its investments in Guinea, particularly in clean energy and infrastructure, with the ambition of making this refinery a symbol of high-quality collaboration. As Guinea turns a page in its economic history, this initiative could well lay the foundations for a prosperous and sustainable industrial future.