SYLLA & PARTNERS assisted the Government of the Republic of Guinea in negotiating Amendment No. 1 to the State Power International Corp (SPIC) mining convention for a major mining and industrial project in the Boffa prefecture.
The project involves the development of a bauxite mine with a production capacity of 27 million tonnes per year, the construction of an alumina refinery with a capacity of 4 million tonnes per year, the development of an industrial zone in the city of Boffa, the construction of a 250-megawatt power plant, as well as the development of modern port infrastructure.
This project was previously developed by CPI International Minerals & Investment Co., Ltd (CPIIM). However, in 2015, CPI merged with SNPTC to create a new company called State Power Investment Corporation Ltd. (SPIC), thus requiring the amendment of the original mining convention to reflect this change in shareholding structure and to adjust certain project terms.
Our firm provided comprehensive legal assistance to the Government of Guinea throughout the negotiation process for this amendment, particularly in mining law, tax law and infrastructure .
The services performed by SYLLA & PARTNERS as legal counsel to the Government of Guinea included the drafting and review of the draft amendment to the mining convention, with particular attention to the infrastructure, tax and customs aspects of the project. We also prepared periodic memos presenting to the Government’s chief negotiators the strengths and weaknesses of the positions being defended, and actively participated in the negotiation sessions for the amendment to the mining convention with SPIC representatives.
It should be noted that discussions on this project have been suspended since 2021, reflecting the complexities inherent in large integrated mining and industrial projects that require constant adjustments based on changes in the economic context and stakeholder priorities.
This type of integrated project, combining mining operations, industrial processing, energy production and port infrastructure, illustrates our firm’s ability to support public authorities in structuring and negotiating complex multi-component projects.
The SYLLA & PARTNERS team was led by Mohamed Sidiki SYLLA, assisted by Madigbè KABA, Watta KAMANO and Alpha Toubab MILLIMONO.
To discover other mining and industrial projects that our firm has completed in Guinea, visit our references page. For any questions regarding our services in mining law or negotiation of amendments to mining conventions, please do not hesitate to contact us.