The Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) announced this week the certification of Guinea Alumina Corporation SA (GAC) under its Performance Standard V2 (2017). The ASI certification of GAC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Emirates Global Aluminium PJSC (EGA), is the organization’s first-ever certification in Guinea.
Covered under the new certification are GAC’s bauxite mining operations close by Sangarédi, the port operations at Kamsar, rail operations between those locations, and a biodiversity offset site at Moyen Bafing National Park.
Fiona Solomon, Chief Executive Officer at ASI, noted the importance of Guinean bauxite in the wider aluminium sector in a press release.
“The vision of the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative is to maximise the contribution of aluminium to a sustainable society, by fostering responsible production, sourcing and stewardship. Guinea plays an important role in the global aluminium value chain, and is a country where the industry’s commitment to sustainability is tested. We congratulate Emirates Global Aluminium and its subsidiary Guinea Alumina Corporation for achieving this first ASI Performance Standard Certification in Guinea, and for their commitment to pursue responsible bauxite mining practices in this challenging setting”
ASI’s Performance Standard is the product of consultations with a multitude of stakeholders throughout the aluminium value chain, which ASI asserts is the sole comprehensive voluntary sustainability standard initiative in the aluminium sector. The standard defines 59 criteria categorized in three sustainability pillars that cover several issues, including biodiversity, Indigenous Peoples rights, and greenhouse gas emissions. Third-party audit of the certification was conducted by BM Trada.
Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer at Emirates Global Aluminium, said sustainability is one of his firm’s primary goals.
“EGA aims to be a global sustainability leader for the aluminium industry, helping ensure that aluminium reaches its full potential to contribute to human progress. Guinea is a developing country, which makes sustainability an essential priority in our local business. ASI Performance Standard certification provides an independent and public verification of both what we do well and where we can continuously improve, such as in our relationships with local communities. I am proud that an EGA company has achieved the first Aluminium Stewardship Initiative certification in Guinea, and hope that other bauxite mining companies in the country will follow our lead.”
The ASI is a worldwide organization dedicated to setting industrial standards and certifications in the aluminium industry. The association brings together the various stakeholders in the aluminium industry in order to achieve objectives including sustainable production methods, material chain-of-custody procedures, recycling, social impacts related to aluminium production, and production standards.