Guinea-Bissau has significant mining potential that remains largely untapped. The government aims to leverage this potential for growth by relying on international partnerships to stimulate exploration and exploitation of resources.
Rich in natural resources that are still largely untapped, Guinea-Bissau is gradually establishing itself as a new mining destination in West Africa. Recent geological surveys have revealed significant reserves of bauxite, phosphate, heavy sands, gold and oil, attracting the interest of global investors. The government aims to make the mining sector a driver of growth, relying on international partnerships to accelerate the exploration and exploitation of these resources.
There are two reasons for the large-scale exploitation of the bauxite reserves that have been found. Firstly, there is a geopolitical factor, as the Guinean government aims to diversify its mineral resources in order to boost its economy. The second reason is purely technical. With its advanced and innovative logging techniques, the country has the means to carry out fairly extensive mineral exploration.
Serge-Parfait DIOMAN, International expert in the oil and energy industries
Recent mining exploration in Guinea-Bissau has revealed five areas with high economic potential, particularly in the Boé and Farim regions. In Farim, high-quality phosphate deposits are already attracting international investors. Bauxite reserves, estimated at 113 million tonnes, have an average alumina content of 44.9% and silica content of 3.7%.
We are at the stage of proven reserves. These are quite interesting discoveries because alumina is extracted from bauxite. The phosphate market, whether it be phosphate, bone meal, superphosphate or triple superphosphate, is a market with a strong upward trend.
Serge-Parfait DIOMAN, International expert in the oil and energy industries
The challenges and prospects associated with this new economic direction are considerable. The exploitation of these resources could transform the country’s financial situation in the long term, generate thousands of jobs and stimulate the development of essential infrastructure – roads, railways and ports. At the same time, the government is stepping up its contacts with major international mining groups, particularly Chinese and Russian ones.
