Is Guinea a hub for lithium prospection?

These developments have turned this area in southern Guinea close to the border with Sierra Leone into a hub for the development of lithium prospection in the country. In April, Guinea Best Minerals applied for two lithium reconnaissance licences close to one of the areas requested by African Lithium, with other companies also expressing interest.

Could Guinea's Kissidougou area be a lithium mine?

Previously best known for its diamonds, Guinea's Kissidougou area near the border with Sierra Leone has shown enough potential to convince one company to explore for lithium there. On 20 April, Global Mining Ressources filed an application for a permit to assess the lithium potential of the area.

Why is Guinea a key player in green-energy transition?

KAGBANI, Guinea — One of the poorest countries on Earth has become a crucial player in the world’s green-energy transition. Guinea, a West African nation of more than 13 million people, is home to the world’s biggest reserves of bauxite — a reddish-brown rock that is the main source of aluminum.

Did mining companies buy land in Guinea?

The Guinean government has reported that hundreds of square miles once used for farming have been acquired by mining companies for their operations and associated roads, railways and ports. Villagers have received little or no compensation, rights activists and locals say.

Why did Guinea restrict bauxite exports?

Under then-President Alpha Condé, Guinea’s government gave a permit to SMB in 2015. Around the same time, Indonesia and Malaysia were restricting their own bauxite exports because of concerns over, respectively, foreign exploitation of resources and environmental degradation.

Is bauxite mined in Guinea?

The aluminum supply chain for American automakers, including Ford, General Motors and Tesla, includes bauxite mined by both of the major producers in Guinea, according to a 2021 report by Human Rights Watch and Inclusive Development International, a U.S.-based advocacy group that aims to defend communities threatened by corporate development.