About Us – Overview

Overview

Global Alumina was founded in 1999 with a vision to become the preferred low-cost alumina supplier to the independent aluminum industry by gaining first-mover advantage in the development of a domestic alumina refining industry in the Republic of Guinea.

Global Alumina’s first project is the development, now jointly with BHP Billiton, Dubai Aluminum Ltd. and Mubadala, of a 3.3 million metric tons-per-year capacity alumina refinery in the Sangaredi region of Guinea, along with the requisite energy, water, transportation and social infrastructure.  The project is designed for significant expansion to 4.8 million metric tons and the joint venture company has approved funding for the site selection and permitting of a second like-sized refinery in the southern half of its concession area. 

Vision and Values

Global Alumina shares the Guinean people’s vision of a  country able to become a dominant global source of alumina.  We believe development of the alumina refining industry is Guinea’s most powerful poverty alleviation tool.  The company has engaged in a long-term consultative process at the village, state and national levels and seeks to adhere to the highest social and environmental standards.

Business Strategy

Global Alumina’s long-term goal is to capture a significant share of the growing demand for alumina through alumina refinery operations in Guinea. 

1. Guinea Alumina’s first 3.3 million metric tons-per-year refinery is designed to accommodate a 50 percent physical expansion, and a gradual increase over 20 years of up to 15 percent additional output through operations improvements. 
2. Guinea Alumina has the prospect of building another like-sized refinery within its current concession and has approved funding for preliminary second refinery site studies. 

How We’ll Get There

1. Guinea Alumina’s refinery operations are designed to position the company as one of the lowest-cost producers in the industry, with internal estimates of cash costs at $134 per metric ton versus an industry average of $230 per ton and highest quartile averaging over $320 per ton in 2008 dollars.
• Very low delivered bauxite cost per metric ton of alumina produced due to the abundance of high quality bauxite in very close proximity to the refinery, and its low costs of extraction and delivery;
• Maximum refining efficiencies through the use of current, state-of-the-art technologies, and economies of scale employed in the design of its world-class refinery.  
2. The new alumina port terminal is designed to accommodate alumina throughput of more than ten million metric tons per year.
3. The existing rail line, on which Guinea Alumina has priority access versus other refinery developers, has excess capacity of about eight million metric tons, which can be readily expanded with the addition of new signaling and passing loops.
4. An employee village is being built with required educational, health and social infrastructure.
5. Guinea Alumina is leveraging its equity investment through significant participation of the international development lending community.
6. Through the active and ongoing engagement of government officials, local citizens, and a wide variety of non-governmental organizations, Guinea Alumina will continue to build on its reservoir of good will intended to protect its interests and its image in Guinea.