Guinea, the world's leading exporter of bauxite with more than 145 million tons shipped in 2024, is becoming a key player in the management of this strategic resource. In a decree broadcast on national television, President Mamadi Doumbouya announced the creation of the Nimba Mining Company (NMC), a public company designed to strengthen state control over bauxite mining. At the same time, a second public entity, Guinéenne des Transports Maritimes (Guitram), has been set up to handle the transport of half of the exported volumes under the Guinean flag.
This repositioning comes at a time when Guinea is seeking to assert its sovereignty over its natural resources, following the example of certain neighboring countries such as Mali and Niger. Unlike these countries, which have engaged in direct confrontations with mining companies, Conakry is relying on the rigorous application of its existing legal framework, particularly the mining code.
Under Article 88 of this code, the government has withdrawn the operating rights for the bauxite concession previously granted to Guinea Alumina Corporation (GAC), a subsidiary of Emirates Global Aluminium. This decision follows repeated accusations that GAC had failed to meet its commitments, including the construction of an alumina refinery, a key project for the local processing of bauxite. GAC's exports, which amounted to 10.8 million tons in 2024, had been suspended as early as October 2024, prior to the definitive cancellation of the agreement binding the company to the state.
A second decree granted NMC exploitation rights over this concession for a period of 25 years, marking a major step towards more direct management of resources by the state. Furthermore, the creation of Guitram is part of the exploitation of a prerogative that has been little used until now: the state's right to transport 50% of bauxite production, in accordance with the mining code.
These initiatives reflect a clear ambition: to move from a simple regulatory role to that of a key player in the bauxite value chain. According to the Minister of Mines, Bouna Sylla, Guitram will enable Guinea to control a significant share of its ore's maritime transport, thereby reducing its dependence on foreign operators. The NMC, for its part, aims to optimize the exploitation of deposits to maximize economic benefits.
However, some uncertainties remain. Little information has been provided about the financing of these projects or the timetable for the start of commercial operations by the two entities. The logistical, financial, and technical challenges that NMC and Guitram will face also remain to be clarified.
As Hamidou Dramé, a lawyer at the Guinea Bar Association, explained in an interview with Agence Ecofin in October 2021, " while no major reforms to the legal framework are planned, we can nevertheless expect the new authorities to strengthen enforcement of the rules set out in the mining code, particularly with regard to taxation and local content ." This prediction seems to be coming true, with strict enforcement of the contractual and legal obligations imposed on mining operators.
Nevertheless, Guinea will need to ensure that its mining sector remains attractive, as it is still dominated by foreign groups with considerable financial and technical resources. The success of this strategy will depend on the ability of the new public structures to overcome operational challenges while consolidating investor confidence.
The creation of NMC and Guitram is part of a regional trend in which several African countries are seeking to regain control of their natural resources. In Guinea, this initiative, spearheaded by President Doumbouya since he came to power in September 2021, aims to maximize the economic benefits of bauxite for national development. It remains to be seen whether these initiatives will succeed in transforming Guinea's mining landscape in a sustainable manner, while avoiding the pitfalls that have sometimes hampered similar projects in the region.