Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) has announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary Guinea Alumina Corporation (GAC), has successfully closed the Republic of Guinea’s largest-ever project financing for a greenfield mining project, in a step forward for EGA’s bauxite mining project and for Guinea’s economy.

The $750 million loan has a tenor of 12 to 14 years and was extended by development finance institutions, export credit agencies and international commercial banks. The loan represents the first time multilateral institutions and international commercial banks have participated together in a project financing for a greenfield mining project in Guinea.

GAC’s success in securing this ground-breaking project financing raises the profile of Guinea in international financial markets and sets a new benchmark for how Guinean projects can be financed, potentially improving Guinea’s access to international capital and boosting the national economy.

The financing supports the development of a bauxite mine as well as related transport infrastructure, including an upgrade to an existing multi-user rail system and the development of a port, in the first phase of GAC’s investment in the country. The mine has some of the world’s best quality resources of bauxite – the primary input in the production of alumina, the feedstock for aluminium smelters. Aluminium is used in industries including aerospace, packaging and transportation.

The approximately $1.4 billion project is one of the largest greenfield investments in Guinea in the last 40 years and is an integral part of EGA’s strategy to integrate upstream in the aluminium value chain.

A later phase of the project envisages the construction of an alumina refinery.