SMB spends US $1 billion to open bauxite railway in Guinea

Published: Jun 23, 2021 08:21

Save

[SMB spends $1 billion to open bauxite railway in Guinea] the West African country of Guinea will become a bigger player in the global bauxite trade as Societe Miniere de Boke has begun transporting ore to the coast through its new $1 billion railway.

The West African country of Guinea will become a bigger player in the global bauxite trade as Societe Miniere de Boke has begun transporting ore to the coast via its new $1 billion railway.

The 84-mile railway will transport bauxite from the Santou II and Houda blocs of SMB to the port of Dapilon. Mining Minister Abdoulaye Magassouba said at the opening ceremony last week that SMB would own the railway within the next 30 years and then return it to the state in 2054.

Sun Xiushun of SMB said that the opening of the new railway will bring several major advantages, including that with the commissioning of Santou-Dapilon Railway, the company will build a bauxite industry chain with more stable production capacity, more ecological operation and more sustainable development.

The new bauxite railway consists of 24 locomotives and more than 1400 trucks. Magassouba pointed out that in the future, other bauxite mining organizations could easily join in the use of the railway.

The Guinean state exported 82.4 million tons of bauxite last year. SMB accounts for 40% of the total. The company is a joint venture between Winning Shipping Ltd., UMS International, Shandong Weiqiao and the Guinean government. The railway project is part of a US $3 billion investment in Guinean bauxite resources. It has also invested in alumina refineries and various bauxite mining licenses.

Aluminum mining production Africa

Data Source Statement: Except for publicly available information, all other data are processed by SMM based on publicly available information, market communication, and relying on SMM‘s internal database model. They are for reference only and do not constitute decision-making recommendations.

For any inquiries or to learn more information, please contact: lemonzhao@smm.cn

For more information on how to access our research reports, please contact:service.en@smm.cn

Related News

Feb 28, 2026 22:00

US-Iran Joint Military Escalation May Pose Multiple Shocks to Global Primary Aluminum Supply Chain [SMM Analysis]

The Middle East turmoil triggered by the US-Iran conflict has become the major geopolitical black swan for the global primary aluminum market, potentially causing millions of tonnes of supply disruptions and raising smelting costs. Coupled with risk aversion, aluminum price volatility may intensify.

Feb 28, 2026 22:00

Feb 28, 2026 21:33

US-Iran Joint Military Escalation May Pose Multiple Shocks to Global Primary Aluminum Supply Chain [SMM Analysis]

The Middle East turmoil triggered by the US-Iran conflict became the largest geopolitical black swan for the global primary aluminum market, potentially causing supply disruptions at a scale of millions of mt, while also pushing up smelting costs. Coupled with market risk-averse sentiment, the volatility of aluminum prices may be amplified. Going forward, it is necessary to remain vigilant against risks such as escalation of conflicts, strait blockades, and raw material supply interruptions, as well as further impacts on aluminum prices from macroeconomic disturbances, and to prudently address the operational and investment risks brought about by fluctuations in the supply chain.

Feb 28, 2026 21:33

Feb 28, 2026 20:43

2026 Overview of Aluminum Plate/Sheet, Strip and Foil Enterprises Resuming Work After Chinese New Year [SMM Analysis]

[SMM Analysis: An Overview of the Resumption of Work for Aluminum Plate/Sheet, Strip and Foil Enterprises After the 2026 Chinese New Year] Looking ahead, as the industry moves past the holiday impact following the Lantern Festival, coupled with the approaching peak season of "Golden March and Silver April" and the "rush to export" window brought about by adjustments in battery export tax rebate policies, the operating rate of the industry is expected to steadily rebound in late March.

Feb 28, 2026 20:43