Guinea cancels 129 mining permits in crackdown on resource control

Jun 02, 2025 News

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Nigeria Mining – Guinea’s military-led government has revoked 129 mining exploration permits as part of its wider effort to tighten oversight of its natural resources and attract new investments. This development was reported by Reuters, citing anonymous sources.

The move is aligned with the country’s broader strategy to optimise its mineral sector, which plays a pivotal role in Guinea’s economy. According to a senior Ministry of Mines official, the government has transitioned to a digital permit system to improve transparency and control.

“We’ve simplified the process by digitising the entire system, making it easier to monitor,” the official explained, although the implications for ongoing investments remain uncertain.

A second ministry source noted that most of the cancelled permits were linked to gold exploration, with those assets now reverting to state ownership.

This is not the first such action in recent months. Earlier in May, authorities withdrew 51 mining licences that had been underutilised or dormant. These included concessions involving bauxite, gold, diamonds, graphite, and iron.

Guinea, home to the world’s largest bauxite reserves and a major supplier to China, has been stepping up its scrutiny of mining licences. The government had previously withdrawn bauxite permits from Kebo Energy and Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), according to a separate Reuters report.

EGA, through its subsidiary Guinea Alumina Corporation (GAC), has faced severe setbacks, having suspended its operations since December 2024. The company reportedly holds nearly two million tonnes of bauxite that remain unexported due to the ongoing disruption.

One key reason for the licence scrutiny appears to be unmet investment commitments. The government has warned that GAC risks losing its licence over its failure to build an alumina refinery—a condition of its agreement with the state.

Guinea’s Minister of Mines, Bouna Sylla, defended the government’s tough stance, insisting that it seeks to ensure that all parties—especially investors—honour their contractual obligations.

“This process will be pursued rigorously, within the framework of the law, while safeguarding the legitimate interests of all parties, including Guinean stakeholders,” he said. In response, GAC has rejected accusations of non-compliance, stating it has communicated the considerable economic, technical, and environmental challenges involved in constructing the alumina refinery to the Guinean authorities.

Guinea’s actions reflect a broader trend among military-led governments in West Africa—such as those in Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso—who are pushing to maximise returns from their mineral wealth.

Meanwhile, Guinea’s actions mirror those of Senegal. Back in 2024 Senegalese Police with the support of its Sub-Immigration Support and Repression Group (GARSI), initiated measures to dismantle clandestine operations in that country’s gold fields, namely the, Kédougou region. Predominantly managed by foreign nationals, particularly from neighbouring countries, these illicit gold panning sites often serve as hubs for various illicit activities including trafficking.

The move was in keeping with the promises of newly elected Senegalese President, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, who on taking office had vowed to clamp down on the skullduggeries taking place in its oil and gas and mining sectors. To this, end reports indicate that in pursuit of organizing and regulating the gold panning industry within the Kédougou region, law enforcement officials, aided by GARSI targeted raids conducted in specific areas resulted in the closure of multiple clandestine sites.

Notably, the operation conducted on Saturday, May 4th, in the village of Bagué, situated in the commune of Missirah Sirimana, led to the seizure of several items including a generator, a motor pump, containers of gasoline, motorcycles, solar panels, a water pump, and a substantial quantity of narcotics. Law enforcement efforts remain ongoing across the Southeast zone. According to reports, following the arrival of law enforcement personnel, illegal gold miners from Burkina Faso hastily vacated the premises, abandoning their equipment, and fleeing across the Malian border to seek refuge.

In a televised address to the Senegalese nation on his assumption of office Faye had immediately revealed plans for a comprehensive audit of the nation’s oil, gas, and mining sectors, and their terms and conditions under which they were handed out by his predecessor. In recent years this publication has reported on a plethora of shortcomings and exploitation in the sector, including those enshrined in the many contracts inked over the years.

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