According to media reports, Australian mining company Lindian Resources recently announced it has signed a legally binding Share Purchase Agreement (SPA) to acquire the remaining 25% equity in Bauxite Holding from minority shareholders. This move marks Lindian Resources’ formal acquisition of 100% ownership of the Lelouma bauxite project in Guinea, completely eliminating risks of project control dilution due to fragmented equity, as well as potential financial and decision-making disputes in subsequent development.

Located in western Guinea, the Lelouma bauxite project lies within the catchment area of the country’s major railway transport trunk lines and Kamsar Port (one of West Africa’s primary deep-sea ports). Its superior geographical position grants significant advantages in logistics transportation and export convenience. As a major bauxite resource holder in Africa, Guinea holds nearly one-third of the world’s proven bauxite reserves, with the area where the Lelouma project is situated being one of the country’s concentrated distribution zones for high-quality bauxite. Previous owners of the project invested over $10 million in preliminary exploration and infrastructure development. Completed geological surveys show the mining area has high-grade bauxite, with preliminary resource estimates indicating commercial development potential. The project holds 900 million tons of JORC-compliant mineral resources, with an alumina grade of 45% and a silica grade of 2.1%. The Lelouma project is designed to produce Direct Shipping Ore (DSO), eliminating the need for processing.

Analysts note that the global bauxite market is facing increasingly tight supply-demand dynamics, particularly as China, the world’s largest aluminum producer, continues to see rising demand for high-quality overseas bauxite resources. Leveraging the Lelouma project’s locational and resource advantages, Lindian Resources is poised to become a key player in the international bauxite supply chain. With the equity acquisition completed, the company plans to initiate detailed exploration and development planning within 2024, aiming to develop the project into a competitive bauxite production base in West Africa and provide sustainable raw material supplies for the global green aluminum industry (such as new energy vehicles, aerospace, and other sectors).