SHANGHAI, Apr 18 (SMM) - According to reports by foreign media, Guinea's interim government has recently asked international mining companies to submit production plans for refining bauxite into alumina and a timetable for the construction of alumina refineries before the end of May this year.

Guinea's environmental protection ministry disclosed that Mrs. Aissatou BALDE, the country's environment, waters and forestry minister, met a business delegation of China's TBEA.

Bauxites de Guinée's (CBG), one of the world’s major bauxite producers, is expected to expand annual bauxite output to 22.5 million tonnes in the future, MiningSink reported.

Shandong Weiqiao Pioneering Group, also known as Weiqiao Group, got into trouble earlier as its shares were suspected of being sold short by European and US institutions.

Shandong Weiqiao Pioneering Group began putting No. 3 berth in No. 2 harbor of its Guinea bauxite project into use on October 5. 

Guinea is expected to overtake Australia as top bauxite supplier to China next year, wenhua.com reported.

Bauxite exports from Guinea are growing rapidly, driven by Chinese project in the country, SMM says.

Shandong Weiqiao Pioneering Group ranks 163th in the latest Fortune Global 500, 99 higher than Chalco, thepaper.cn reported.

Experts predict that Guinea will replace Australia as China’s top bauxite supplier by 2017, China’s Ministry of Finance said on its website on July 22.

Ron Knapp, Secretary General of the International Aluminium Institute (IAI) paid a two-day visit to Shandong Weiqiao Pioneering Group during July 14-15, cnal.com reported.