French version

Conakry, June 24, 2024  -  The Guinean government, the French group ALTEO Alumina and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) have signed a public-private development partnership (PPDP) aimed at accelerating skills development to strengthen the bauxite and alumina industry in Guinea. This partnership is a core driver of Alteo's alumina refinery (ARG) project to build an alumina Refinery in Boke region. The aim is to foster, through the transfer of skills, the emergence of a highly qualified workforce in Guinea, thereby supporting the national bauxite value addition strategy and creating a local bauxite refining industry. This partnership underlines Alteo's commitment to sustainable development and economic growth in Guinea, ensuring that the local community benefits directly from the refinery project, through the support of local and national authorities towards sustainable development and UNIDO's expertise in this field. 

This PPDP is central to Guinea's national strategy for advancing the bauxite value chain. On March 21, 2024, General Mamadi Doumbouya, President of the Republic of Guinea, announced through a presidential decree that the Alteo Refinery Guinea (ARG) project, was of national interest. 

UNIDO’s PPDP involves several Guinean ministries: the Ministry of Technical Education, Vocational Training and Employment, the Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation, the Ministry of Mines and Geology, and the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Small and Medium Enterprises. UNIDO and the Alteo Group will act as technical partners to the Guinean Government. They will work together to strengthen the national skills development system, notably through the establishment of the future Conakry Alumina Training School (Ecole de Formation pour les métiers de l’Alumine à Conakry, EFAC) and working towards its sustainability. 

The first phase of the project design will be dedicated to a political economy analysis to better understand the actors and interests that shape skills development for value addition in Guinea’s mining sector. This phase, which is expected to last 12 months, is funded by the Alteo Alumina group. 

Statements from Ministers involved in the PPDP: 

According to Minister Aminata Kaba (TVET), "The Head of State spares no effort to illustrate his determination to transform our precious nation. His top priority is to raise the qualification level of our human capital, by enhancing not only the entire educational system but also by establishing integrated, structuring projects such as the SIMANDOU project." 

Minister Alpha Bacar Barry (Higher Education) emphasized that this partnership aligns perfectly with the vision of the President of the Republic and Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah. He stressed the importance of this initiative to improve young Guineans' access to skilled jobs in the mining industry, particularly in the bauxite and alumina sectors. "This partnership is a crucial step in addressing the mismatch between the training provided and the labor market requirements," he declared. 

Statement from UNIDO: 

"UNIDO is delighted to collaborate closely with the Government and the Alteo Alumina group to accelerate the development of a responsible, inclusive, and competitive alumina industry in Guinea. The project will offer young Guineans high-quality training, perfectly aligned with industry needs, and open up opportunities for skilled employment. We view the ARG project as a springboard for inclusive and responsible industrialization in Guinea and an example for other African countries rich in critical minerals. We are determined to make this project a success," stated Ansoumane Berete, UNIDO’s Country Representative in Guinea. 

Statement from Alteo Alumina: 

"We are pleased to collaborate with the Guinean Government and UNIDO in establishing this development partnership. While the ARG project we are undertaking with ALTEO Alumina group is obviously an industrial project, the issue of training local talent is one of our priorities. We are convinced that the strategic challenge of our refinery project is to train locally so that young Guineans can fully seize the employment opportunities created", said Sofiane Mabouth, Director General and Country Manager Guinea for ALTEO Alumina. 

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About UNIDO 

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) promotes industrial development for poverty reduction, inclusive globalization, and environmental sustainability. Its mission is to promote and accelerate inclusive and sustainable industrial development in its 172-member states. 

About Alteo Alumina 

Alteo Alumina is the global leader in the production of specialty alumina, developing high-value-added products. Based in Gardanne, Provence, Alteo Alumina is present in 16 countries and exports its products to about sixty countries. The group places R&D, innovation, and sustainable development at the heart of its growth strategy. For more information, visit http://www.alteo-alumina.com.