Guinea bauxite operations at SMB and CBG mines return to normal after political unrest

According to a Reuters report, bauxite mining operations in the West African country of Guinea came back to normal after it was disrupted temporarily because of political protests. Protesters were demonstrating against a possible change in the constitution that may let President Alpha Conde continue a third term.

The news was confirmed by representatives from the consortium of Societe Miniere de Boke (SMB) and Singapore's Winning, which is Guinea's top exporter of bauxite, and the Guinea Bauxite Company (CBG).

"We have been impacted by the protests, with around two-and-a-half slow days of production," a CBG official told Reuters, estimating typical losses from a one-day halt to operations at around $1 million.

He also added that the bauxite loaded train heading to the Russian aluminium producer Rusal and EGA-owned Guinea Alumina Corporation could not run because of the unrest.

Rusal and GAC did not make any official comment.

SMB's director general, Frederic Bouzigues, said trucks were blocked on Monday but that production was not impacted majorly and returned to normal on Thursday.