EGA ships first Guinean Bauxite under renewed supply agreement

UAE – Emirates Global Aluminium has announced that the first shipment of Guinean bauxite under a renewed agreement with Compagnie des Bauxites de Guinée is on its way to the UAE, supporting a supply chain that feeds aluminium production and recycling operations.

Some 66 thousand tonnes of bauxite were loaded onto a Panamax vessel at Kamsar in late August. 

The renewed agreement between EGA and Compagnie des Bauxites de Guinée covers up to 4.9 million tonnes per year of bauxite until 2044. 

Bauxite is the feedstock for alumina refineries, which in turn supply primary aluminium smelters. 

While bauxite itself is not recycled, the aluminium produced from it can be recovered repeatedly without loss of quality, making primary supply and recycling complementary rather than competing streams.

Long-Term Supply Underpins Diversified Portfolio

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, chief executive officer of Emirates Global Aluminium, said the company looked forward to contributing to the prosperity of Guinea and its people as a long-term bauxite customer, and to continuing to use high-quality Guinean bauxite in its operations as part of a diversified and resilient bauxite supply portfolio. 

Bauxite supply security matters to EGA’s broader operations, which now include more than 400,000 metric tonnes per year of aluminium recycling capacity across the UAE, the United States, Germany and Italy, with a further 200,000 metric tonnes under development.

Settlement Resolves Disputes Over Supply Interruption

EGA, Guinea Alumina Corporation and the Republic of Guinea, represented by the Minister of Mines and Geology and the Minister of Economy, Finance and Budget, reached an agreement in May to definitively settle disputes arising from the cessation of GAC’s activities in Guinea and the interruption of Guinean bauxite supplies to EGA. 

The agreement was closed in late August after various conditions precedent were met. 

The amicable settlement was reached through a formal conciliation process conducted under the auspices of the incumbent President of the Paris Bar Association, Louis Degos.

Recycled Aluminium Complements Primary Metal Demand

Bouna Sylla, Minister of Mines and Geology of the Republic of Guinea, said the first bauxite shipment following the entry into force of the Global Settlement Agreement marked an important milestone in a new relationship strengthening trade ties, adding that Guinea was glad EGA continued to be a customer for its high-quality bauxite. 

For packaging supply chains, aluminium’s recyclability means demand can increasingly be met from recovered metal alongside primary production, reducing energy intensity and supporting circular economy targets across beverage can, foil and container applications.

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