Press release

Press release: Guinea: Certification of bauxite mine despite human rights violations and environmental destruction

A tree-vehicle stands in front of a mine.

Guinea: Certification of bauxite mine despite human rights violations and environmental destruction

Berlin, 12.03.2024: The non-governmental organizations FIAN and PowerShift criticize the preliminary certification of the bauxite mine Compagnie des Bauxites des Guinée (CBG) through the Aluminium stewardship initiative (ASI). The certification on the basis of social and environmental standards of the ASI stands in clear contrast to human rights violations and environmental destruction by the mine, which both organizations have documented. The partner organizations ADREMGUI and CECIDE in Guinea and IDI from the USA also publicly point this out.

The mine near the town of Sangaredi in the Boké region of northwestern Guinea is one of the largest bauxite mines in the world with an area of almost 3,000 km2. The villages in their concession have been complaining about the destruction of their livelihoods since 2016. “The reckless actions of the CBG are destroying the agricultural land and water resources of the population. The fact that CBG has nevertheless been certified by ASI is completely incomprehensible and looks like pure greenwashing", criticises Gertrud Falk from FIAN, who documented the situation at the affected local communities.

In 2016, the German government insured a loan of EUR 248 million from ING DiBa to CBG. This was intended to increase the production of the mine. This was accompanied by the requirement that 15 percent of the bauxite extracted be exported to Germany. In Germany, this is used by automotive companies as well as the packaging, construction and energy sectors. ‘The certification by ASI must not result in the Federal Government and German companies abstaining from their duty of care. They share responsibility for supporting CBG’s outrageous corporate practices", warns Hendrik Schnittker of PowerShift.

ASI is a private certification company for the aluminium sector headquartered in Australia. Their certification standards include human rights and environmental protection. Management plans for this need to be made accessible. ASI certified CBG from December 2023 to December 2024. On ASI's website, CBG's managing director Souleymane Traoré claims that CBG attaches great importance to community and environmental concerns. This statement contrasts with FIAN's and PowerShift's on-site research and the ongoing complaints from communities in the CBG mine concession.

NGOs Inclusive Development International, CECIDE and ADREMGUI have detailed that CBG does not meet ASI standards.

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