Iron

Guinea
Rio Tinto puts finishing touches to Simandou mining project

The UK-Australian giant has been busy selecting subcontractors and discussing the sale price of iron with its Chinese buyers as it awaits its partner Chinalco's financial commitment to the project, hopefully in March. Rio Tinto has also been in talks with the Guinean junta.

Liberia
Facing numerous hurdles, miners Solway and HPX look to Joseph Boakai for help

The Swiss and US firms are hoping the newly installed president will clean up Liberia's mining sector. With Washington's backing, they are trying to undo the former administration's manœuvres and to build a rail corridor.

Liberia
Mining magnates and lobbyists jockey for position ahead of presidential handover

With George Weah due to make way for Joseph Boakai, ArcelorMittal and Robert Friedland are busy. Both have a major interest in the rail corridor between the Nimba mining area and the port of Buchanan.

Guinea
Ex-minister Kanté sent for trial over alleged bauxite fraud

Former mines minister Ahmed Kanté now heads GIC, a mining company which controls a major bauxite mining project in Boké. He is having to defend himself, however, against an accusation that he abused the confidence of his former Russian partner, Alexander Zotov.

Palace Intrigues
Robert Friedland, Mamadi Doumbouya, Modeste Bahati Lukwebo, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Mamadou Sangafowa Coulibaly

Intrigues big and small... Every Thursday, Africa Intelligence takes a peek into the corridors of power in Africa and beyond.

GuineaDoumbouya snubs Friedland in NYC

DRCModeste Bahati Lukwebo acquires luxury Bukavu hotel

EgyptSisi lays on elite judo training for grandson

Ivory CoastOnly first class will do for Mamadou Sangafowa Coulibaly

Guinea
Bauxite: Chalco under pressure to restart production in Boffa

Three ministers travelled to Boffa in mid-November to try and resolve the dispute between the Chinese group's local subsidiary, its employees and local communities. Production stopped at the site on 23 October and the government wants it restarted urgently.

Guinea
UMS to recover rerouted mining plane after lengthy legal battle

The plane was supposed to travel to France for maintenance work, but was re-routed to Canada.

Liberia
Weah faces arbitration threat from Solway over ArcelorMittal deal

Solway Investment Group has told the Liberian president to either provide compensation after a secret deal that handed its iron ore mining licence to ArcelorMittal, or face arbitration that could cost the state $2bn.