West Africa's guinea has 26.4 percent of the world's bauxite reserves, or 7.4 billion tons, and despite years of warlord infighting and civil war, it hasn't quashed the investment boom. The guinean government spent $2 billion on bauxite mining in 2016, with a target of 60 million tons by 2020, up from 18 million tons in 2015.

Although guinea is rich in bauxite and easy to open pit, due to political instability, high legal and social risks, as well as power shortage, it has certain impact on the stable and sustainable development.

After years of hard work and rectification, guinea's bauxite industry finally met the requirements of the Extractive Industries transparency Initiative (EITI), which it joined on 2 July 2014 and submitted its first report in December 2015. According to the report, as of 2013, there were 13 companies in guinea that had obtained mining licenses and concessions. Five companies, including two from China, have won exploration licences. The EITI is an international organization established under the initiative of former British prime minister Tony Blair in September 2002.

Guinea government encourages bauxite mine, Mr Conte President in March 2018 of a commercial BBS, said at the meeting of guinea has half of the world bauxite reserves, accounts for only 7% of the market, but hope that guinea soon to become the world's major exporter of bauxite, and demanded that the mining, the mining company reaches a certain size must invest in alumina plant; With the help of the world bank, he said, economic corridors would be planned and mining companies would be allowed to build railways along them as planned, in the hope of creating a synergy that would avoid chaos.

Guinea will follow the following mature development model to develop the upstream industry of aluminum, that is, in the early stage, it will focus on the introduction and investment of mineral resources to develop the mining industry, which will start to be tightened after the mining industry takes shape. It is required to develop the downstream processing industry at the same time, that is, to extract alumina or even primary aluminum. Finally, zui will realize the win-win development model of mining and alumina. Guinea appears to have reached the stage of developing alumina production. Guinea's President alpha conde told a mining conference in May 2017 that miners should set up alumina plants after they produce a certain amount of raw aluminum. Guinea has only one alumina plant, in the region of fria, owned by rusal, which was shut down in 2012 and restarted in 2018.

Why did China invest in the bauxite mines in guinea

China is not a country rich in bauxite resources and its quality is not satisfactory. Therefore, a large amount of bauxite must be imported every year to ensure the development of aluminum industry. For example, China imported 70.22 million tons of bauxite in 2013 and 68.6 million tons in 2017. Mainly imported from Australia, Indonesia, India, Brazil and other countries, but since 2016, guinea has become the largest importer of Chinese bauxite, proportion rising year by year at the same time, the first 10 months of 2018, imports from guinea, 31.531 million tons, accounting for 46.5% of total imports, estimated annual imports of 40 million tons or more, the proportion of total imports 50% or higher. This is the "One Belt And One Road" initiative and reform and opening up the fruits.

Guinea is an agricultural country, rich in minerals, known as the "geological miracle", bauxite, diamond reserves. During his meeting with guinean President conte at the 2017 brics summit in xiamen, Chinese President xi jinping made it clear that the two sides should enhance political mutual trust and carry forward the traditional friendship between the two countries. Meanwhile, it is reported that China has agreed to provide guinea with a loan of 20 billion us dollars within 20 years after 2017 in exchange for the right to develop bauxite. Since then, China has become a major supporter of zui in guinea.

To sum up, the reasons for China's investment in the bauxite mines in guinea can be summarized as follows:

One is China's bauxite resources, poor quality at the same time, according to the departmental information, the world has proven reserves of 28 billion tons in 2015, China only 830 million tons, accounts for only 2.96% of the world, at the same time, domestic production 60 million tons in 2015, according to the calculation, after 14 years, will be exhausted, and global bauxite mining duration of up to 102 years.

Second, before China started to exploit the bauxite in guinea in a large scale, most of the bauxite imports came from Australia, Malaysia, Indonesia and other countries. Due to political and environmental reasons, it was difficult to maintain long-term stable imports and new sources had to be sought.

Third, guinea's bauxite has many advantages, with large reserves, accounting for 26.4% of the total global reserves. The ore deposits are concentrated and shallow, and are mostly distributed in bokai district. The ore deposits are 3m -- 9m thick, and the ore points are easy to enter. Without stripping the non-ore soil, a large amount of open pit mining can be carried out, and the reserves of one ore point can reach tens of millions to hundreds of millions of tons. The mine is only a few dozen to a few hundred kilometers away from the Atlantic ocean, which is convenient for loading and exporting. Bauxite of high grade, oxidation content 45% - 60%, there are higher, silica content 1.5% - 3.5%, most of about 2%, are sanshui soft alumina, bayer method can be used to extract alumina.

Chinese aluminum companies in guinea

Pioneer of "21st century maritime silk road" : China hongqiao group

Before 2015, Chinese aluminum companies had no substantial bauxite supply base in guinea.

China hongqiao group, an aluminum enterprise with a global production capacity of zui, takes the lead in implementing overseas bauxite mining strategy under the national "One Belt And One Road" initiative. In 2015, with hongqiao group as the leading group and veli international group of Singapore, Boke area, which is more than 200 kilometers away from Conakry, was transported back to yantai by "mining river shipping" mode with over 14,000 nautical miles. This article "the 21st world maritime bauxite road" for China's aluminium industry opens up a new bauxite supply base, at the same time, mine construction, the construction of infrastructure, transportation ships make also drive out made in China, China's equipment, is presented to the world Chinese enterprises practice "Marine silk road" in the 21st century initiative of the script.

China has been the world's largest producer and exporter of aluminum since 2002. In order to find resources for China's aluminum industry, China hongqiao group completed bokai mine in guinea after arduous investigation, investigation, negotiation, project approval and construction in 2014. On July 20, 2015, the first ship of bauxite ore shipment was completed. Carrying 180,000 tons of china-guinea friendship, the wei li xin xin passed through the Atlantic ocean, cape of good hope, Indian Ocean, malacca strait, south China sea, east China sea and yellow sea. It took 45 days and more than 14,000 nautical miles to reach yantai port.

According to relevant data, the bauxite in bokai mining area imported by China hongqiao group in 2015 was only 1 million tons, which increased to 11.5 million tons in 2016, 31.5 million tons in 2017 and 40 million tons in 2018. Bokai mine has become the world's largest bauxite mining and export base zui.

Now, bokai district has become a dynamic special economic zone in zui, guinea and the "economic engine" of the country's development. It is also a model for China's aluminum industry to "go global". It is worth pointing out that bokai mining area also does a good job in terms of reclamation. Cashew trees have been planted in no.7-3 block of 041 mining area after mining. The winning coalition's recent plan is to build a 135km-long railway line from the mine to the port, which would radically change the status quo of limited truck capacity, while also running passenger cars, which would greatly facilitate local passenger and freight traffic. On average, a bauxite ship from guinea arrives in yantai every day and a half.

In response to guinea's call, hongqiao group plans to invest in the construction of an alumina plant in bokai in 2019 to increase the added value of guinea's export resources and create more taxes and jobs there. In order to cultivate technical backbone for alumina project, the group decides to send 150 guinean overseas students to Northeastern University every year starting from 2018. After graduation, they will take internship in relevant enterprises in binzhou, shandong province and return to guinea alumina plant as technical backbone. The author sincerely hopes that the alumina project can be put into production as soon as possible and import alumina as much as possible.

The alumina plant is invested and constructed by winwin alliance and bokai mining company. It will start construction in 2019 and start operation in 2022 with a total investment of 3 billion us dollars and a production capacity of 1 million tons per year. Located in Dapilon in bokai region, it is the second alumina plant in guinea and its products will be exported to China.

Boke mining company is the China hongqiao group, WeiLi logistics co., LTD. (Africa), shanklin holdings co., LTD., jointly established in 2014, the mining area is located in boke administrative region, west of capital and boke, on the other side of the river, only 25 kilometers away from the river, the river port connects water to harbour, with 150000 tons - 250000 tons of cosco bulk carrier to shandong yantai harbour. In order to facilitate transportation, China hongqiao group, wei li logistics (Africa) co., LTD., yantai port group co., ltd. and bokai mining co., ltd. have jointly established the port co., LTD., which has two bauxite berths, a ship belt transportation line set and a heavy cargo berth. The designed loading capacity is 10 million tons/year. By 2020, the shipping capacity can be up to 30 million tons/year. The right bank of the river can be radiated by the port, and the bauxite reserves in the hinterland of the port are huge.

Boke mining company and a river port on July 20, 2015 put into operation, the completion of shipment held a grand ceremony, from the foundation to put into operation in just 100 days, 4 months earlier than planned, created the wharf history on the miracle of sound and rapid, fully embodies the "China speed", set up the Chinese enterprise responsible, dare to bear a good image.

The project was highly valued by the guinean government. President conte attended the groundbreaking ceremony, the donation ceremony of the medical station and the shipping ceremony. The ambassadors to guinea attended the shipping ceremony, which was broadcast live on guinean state television. At the groundbreaking ceremony, President conte praised the project as a symbol of guinea, which will change the image and life of the people of guinea and bring benefits to the people of guinea. "During the ebola outbreak, the Chinese government and people extended sincere assistance to the government and people of guinea," conte said. During this period, only the Chinese enterprises not only did not withdraw and withdraw, but increased investment to speed up construction. Four months ago, when they told me that there would be a shipping ceremony today, I didn't believe they would be able to complete it, but today the shipping ceremony was successfully held and the Chinese companies have fulfilled their promises! In the future, we will give more support and trust to Chinese enterprises. We thank them for the change and contribution they have made to the development of guinea."

Weiqiao venture group was awarded the title of "China non-ferrous metal industry overseas resources development strategy meritorious enterprise" on September 9, 2015.

Other Chinese companies

Tbea group

In October 2017, the guinean government approved a us $2.8 billion investment by China tpe group to develop bauxite mines and build alumina and electrolytic aluminum plants in guinea.

Aluminum corporation of China LTD

Guinea, a.m. local time on June 8, 2018 of China aluminium co., LTD belongs to China aluminium co., LTD. And Hong Kong the guinean government signed Po method in cora kerry (Boffa) mining project agreement, marked the chinalco's stake in the implementation of globalization strategy development layout opens up a new journey, is chinalco's stake in response to a national "area" initiative, globalization development layout, promote the sustainable development ability, major initiatives to obtain stable overseas high quality bauxite resources, has very important strategic significance. At the same time, the signing of the agreement has also made positive contributions to the economic and social development of guinea and the establishment of long-term strategic cooperative partnership between China and guinea. This is a mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation between chinalco and the guinean government, and an important milestone in the internationalization of chinalco.

After years exploration, exploring, chinalco's stake to determine available resources reserves of about 1.75 billion tons of Po method region, sustainable exploitation of 60 years for a long time, as the key target of chinalco's stake, October 31, 2016, chinalco's stake in mining companies and the government of guinea, guinea countries signed a cooperation framework agreement on the Po method of block development cooperation. After several rounds of business negotiations, the two sides finally signed the mining agreement of bofa project, and established three independent companies in the local area: mining company, port company and lightering company, which completely followed international practices and global market operation to ensure the stable and continuous supply of bauxite resources of chinalco.

According to the mining deal for the Po method project Po method development and operation of the project, the guinean government commitment in the local policy, environment, hygiene, health and safety, financial, accounting, taxation and customs regulations, etc, to provide the corresponding security, and in the mining industry after the agreement comes into effect, as guinea legal issue, effectively safeguard the rights and interests of chinalco's investment.

Bofa bauxite mine held a groundbreaking ceremony in bofa city on October 28, 2018 local time, with an initial production capacity of 12 million tons per year.

Henan international cooperation group

On November 22, 2018, China henan international cooperation group (hereinafter referred to as henan international), liaoning zhongwang group and henan idian holding group signed the framework cooperation agreement on henan international mining development co., LTD., which intends to jointly invest in the development of guinea bauxite through the way of increasing investment in henan international mining industry.

In October 2010, henan international mining development co., LTD., a wholly-owned subsidiary of henan international, obtained the concession of bauxite mining project in bokai region, guinea. After the implementation of the project, the development momentum has been stable, with about 6 million tons of bauxite exported to China in 2018. In order to promote the high-quality development of the project, increase project investment, improve the industrial chain and improve market competitiveness, under the coordination of the sasac of henan province, henan international, liaoning zhongwang group and idian holding group signed a framework cooperation agreement to jointly develop the bauxite mine in guinea.

According to the agreement, all parties will be intensive their respective advantages, expand capacity cooperation, strengthen cooperation, promote cooperation value, innovation-driven development, gradually build transnational mining bauxite, alumina and primary aluminum production industry structure, and help the parties to participate in the "area" construction, promote China's aluminium industry upgrade and sustainable and healthy development.

Zibo rundi aluminum co. LTD

On November 19, 2018, zibo rundi aluminum co., ltd. of China obtained two bauxite mining concessions issued by the government of guinea, which have a 25-year term and can be extended. The mine is located in Fria province, BOKE region. The project covers an area of 347 square kilometers in block 22448 and 491.43 square kilometers in block 22449. The total area is 838.63 square kilometers and the total reserves are estimated to be 1 billion tons of >. The construction period of the project is 24 months, starting from the 12th month, with an annual output of 5 million tons in the first year and 10 million tons in the second year. Friya is located in the northeast of the capital Conakry and bofa, about 135 kilometers away from Conakry, and is connected by railway.

Other national enterprises