Fluor Corporation announced yesterday that it has been awarded a US$700 million consulting contract by Guinea Alumina Corporation S.A. (GAC) to engineer and manage construction for a major bauxite ore mine in Guinea.
The contract will have Fluor managing the development of the mine, expected to yield 12 million metric tons of bauxite ore per annum, a dedicated export terminal at the port of Kamsar, an associated rail line, and other necessary infrastructure modifications.
“Fluor has worked with GAC since the preliminary phase of the project to develop a customized, capital-efficient design to meet the company’s unique business objectives,” said president of Fluor’s Mining & Metals business Rick Koumouris. “We will leverage our global expertise in marine structures, port terminals and mineral processing along with our experience in Guinea to deliver innovative design and project execution solutions that improve capital efficiency.”
“Guinea Alumina Corporation, a key investment for Emirates Global Aluminium, will drive significant local growth within Guinea and secure Emirates Global Aluminium’s position upstream in the aluminium chain,” explained managing director and chief executive officer of Emirates Global Aluminium Abdulla Kalban, parent company of GAC. “We look forward to our continued relationship with Fluor to ensure further cost optimization and ultimately a safe and successful project.”
Fluor completed the feasibility study for the project in the second quarter of last year. The mine is expected to come online next year.
Based in Irving, Texas, Fluor was founded in Santa Ana, California in 1912 by John Simon Fluor as Fluor Construction Company. Initially the firm built oil refineries, pipelines, and other facilities for the oil and gas industry. It subsequently diversified into construction and engineering for other raw materials, eventually abandoning oil altogether. It currently provides engineering, procurement, construction, maintenance, and project management services in a broad range of industries.