Africa intensifies focus on local processing

Guinea’s Ministry of Mines and Geology plans to have five alumina refineries operating by 2030, with three already underway, it announced during a ministerial panel at African Mining Week 2026 in Cape Town, South Africa.

The refineries are part of Guinea’s Simandou 2040 strategy, which is focused on transforming the country from a raw mineral exporter into a regional processing and industrial hub.

Under its Simandou 2040 plan, Guinea aims to reach 7–8 million tonnes of annual alumina production capacity by 2030, alongside investments in steel manufacturing, power generation, and downstream infrastructure.

Guinea’s Minister of Mines and Geology Senior Advisor Daouda Diakité says the plan aims to establish a strong mineral processing base to support the country’s downstream sector, leveraging its extensive bauxite and iron ore resources.