SYLLA & PARTNERS advised and assisted the Government of the Republic of Guinea regarding the project to operate a bauxite mine in Sangarédi and particularly in negotiating certain direct agreements with Guinea Alumina Corporation (GAC) and its lenders. The financing agreement amount is estimated at seven hundred fifty million US dollars (USD 750,000,000) for the implementation of the first phase of this project.
Guinea Alumina Corporation (GAC) is developing one of the most important mining projects in the Boké region, with the operation of a bauxite mine in Sangarédi. This project required the establishment of a sophisticated financing structure involving several international lenders and requiring the participation of the Government of Guinea and the National Agency for Mining Infrastructure Development (ANAIM) in certain direct agreements.
Direct agreements constitute an essential legal instrument in mining project financing, enabling lenders to secure their investments while defining intervention procedures in case of project difficulties. These agreements establish the respective rights and obligations of the government, ANAIM, lenders and the mining company.
Negotiating these direct agreements in the context of GAC financing required in-depth expertise in structured mining project finance, security interests law and coordination between the project’s multiple stakeholders.
Our firm provided comprehensive legal assistance to the Government of Guinea and ANAIM throughout this negotiation process, mobilizing our expertise in project finance, mining law and security interests.
The services performed by SYLLA & PARTNERS as local counsel to the Government of Guinea and ANAIM included thorough review of all financing agreements and direct agreements between the parties, issuance of legal opinions on the validity and enforceability of agreements under Guinean law, completion of formalities related to the registration of security interests at the Trade and Movable Credit Register (RCCM), drafting of periodic memos analyzing legal and strategic issues, as well as drafting of mission reports.
This type of assignment illustrates our ability to support the Government of Guinea and public institutions in large-scale mining project financing operations, ensuring the protection of public interests while facilitating the mobilization of capital necessary for mining sector development.
The SYLLA & PARTNERS team was led by Mohamed Sidiki SYLLA, partner, assisted by Pierre Kodjo AVODE, Alpha Modou Sampil, Madigbè KABA and Watta KAMANO.
To discover other mining financing projects that our firm has completed in Guinea, visit our references page. For any questions regarding our services in mining project financing, please do not hesitate to contact us.