A train operated by Russian aluminium producer Rusal derailed in Guinea's Dubreka prefecture over the weekend, severing rail access to its Friguia alumina refinery and bringing alumina exports to a halt while slowing production, according to sources who spoke to Reuters. The train, which was carrying alumina, came off the tracks near Kagbelen on Saturday evening, August 23, resulting in four injuries and forcing the suspension of rail operations. The accident occurred during weekend operations and prompted immediate operational changes at the facility.
A senior official at the Friguia refinery confirmed that alumina production was continuing at a reduced rate following the accident, though the precise impact on output could not be immediately quantified. The suspension of rail operations has effectively halted alumina exports while the infrastructure is being assessed and repaired. Guinea holds strategic importance in the global aluminium supply chain as the world's largest exporter of bauxite, the primary ore used in aluminium production.
Rusal operates the country's sole alumina refinery, which holds particular significance for the Russian producer's operations. The Friguia refinery has an installed annual capacity of 600,000 metric tons and supplies alumina to Rusal's aluminium smelters. The facility was shut down in 2012 before resuming operations in 2018.
Since its restart, the refinery has produced approximately 450,000 tons of alumina per year, according to refinery officials. The recent derailment represents a significant disruption to these operations during a period when the facility was operating below its installed capacity but maintaining steady production levels. The incident highlights the vulnerability of infrastructure supporting the global aluminium supply chain, particularly in regions critical to primary alumina production.
The duration of the export halt and the timeline for restoring full operations remain to be determined as investigations and repair efforts continue.
Source: asianmetal.com