ASI certifies Emirates Global Aluminium PJSC subsidiary Guinea Alumina Corporation SA against Performance Standard
It is the first ASI Certification issued to an Entity in Guinea, which is the world’s largest resource holder of bauxite and the second largest global producer.
15 March 2023
Guinea Alumina Corporation SA (GAC), a wholly owned subsidiary of Emirates Global Aluminium PJSC (EGA), has achieved ASI Performance Standard V2 (2017) Certification for its bauxite mining operation, including rail and port operations, as well as a biodiversity offset site, all located in Guinea. It is the first ASI Certification issued to an Entity in Guinea, which is the world’s largest resource holder of bauxite and the second largest global producer.
Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) today announced that GAC has been certified against the ASI Performance Standard at its bauxite mining operations (including camps and facilities) near Sangarédi, port operations for bauxite export at Kamsar, rail operations between GAC’s facilities and the main rail line, and a biodiversity offset site (part of Moyen Bafing National Park). In 2022, EGA exported 14 million wet tonnes of bauxite from GAC, making EGA one of the largest merchant suppliers of the mineral in the world.
The ASI Certification program was developed through an extensive multi-stakeholder consultation process and is the only comprehensive voluntary sustainability standard initiative for the aluminium value chain. The ASI Performance Standard V2 (2017) defines environmental, social and governance principles and criteria, with the aim to address sustainability issues in the aluminium value chain. It sets out 59 criteria under the three sustainability pillars of Environment, Social, and Governance, which address key issues such as biodiversity, labour rights, Indigenous Peoples rights, and greenhouse gas emissions.
The independent, third-party audit of the GAC operations was carried out by BM Trada. The GAC audit piloted the involvement of Guinean specialists in the audit team, after having been trained in the ASI audit process as part of ASI’s Registered Specialists Program. This empowered the local experts to take the lead on social engagement during the audit process.
Social engagement comprised field visits to two resettled communities and an impacted community, as well as additional engagement with another impacted community. Discussions were led by the Registered Specialists in the local languages and conducted by the audit team without the presence of company representatives. Participants, composed of women, men, elders and youth, were thus able to freely and openly make statements, and raise their issues and concerns, ensuring that all perspectives were heard. In addition, GAC staff and contractors were interviewed, again ensuring a gender balance and in a neutral setting, enabling participants to speak openly about their experiences. To cross reference and triangulate the social engagement further, consultation was held with elected officials in several regions to hear different perspectives and understand impacts – positive and negative – mitigation measures and consider a range of cumulative impacts (e.g., multi-company, legacy issues and local infrastructure).
“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”
– Fiona Solomon, Chief Executive Officer at ASI
“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.”
– Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer at Emirates Global Aluminium
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