AGP Executive Report

Simandou Rail Push: Guinea’s $27B Simandou project is moving fast, with the 650km CTG rail link nearing ~80% completion and the main line already supporting test exports—aimed at adding up to 120Mt/yr of high-grade iron ore and challenging the Australia-Brazil iron duopoly. Maritime Policy & Security: India’s UNSC campaign highlights a push for a rule-based maritime order, seafarer safety, and counter–terror financing—issues that matter for West African shipping routes. Mining Finance Watch: China is setting up a state-backed overseas mining investment unit to tighten control of strategic minerals supply chains, while Guinea’s broader mineral value-add debate keeps resurfacing. Digital Supply Chain in Conakry: Conakry Terminal has launched an IES digital platform to modernize Guinea’s supply chain infrastructure. Connectivity & Telecom Resilience: CSquared announced capacity on the 2Africa West cable to diversify subsea routes and reduce landing-station concentration risk across West and Central Africa.

Port Modernization in Guinea: Conakry Terminal launched IES (iPAKi External Site), a 24/7 digital platform to handle documentary steps and secure payments online, with real-time tracking and faster access to exit documents—aimed at cutting delays in Guinea’s supply chain. Mining & Infrastructure—Simandou Push: New reporting says Guinea’s 650km CTG rail link for Simandou is nearing ~80% completion, with key sections already operational and moving toward ramp-up exports that could reshape global iron ore supply. Battery Supply Chain—Guinea-to-Morocco Graphite: Falcon Energy Materials opened a pilot plant in Morocco to produce battery-grade coated graphite, part of its plan to build an integrated graphite supply chain starting in Guinea. Maritime Security Focus: India’s UNSC campaign highlights priorities including rule-based maritime order and safety of seafarers, tying global trade security to governance of the maritime commons. AI Governance (Francophone West Africa): Six countries adopted shared ethical AI guidelines to support national AI policy design and regional cooperation. Gold Sector—State Takeover Trend: Burkina Faso granted an industrial mining permit to state miner SOPAMIB for the Bouboulou gold project, signaling a shift toward state-led extraction.

Port Digitalization in Guinea: Conakry Terminal has launched IES (iPAKi External Site), a 24/7 online platform to streamline document processing and secure payments, letting customers track operations and get exit documents remotely. Mining State Control in the Sahel: Burkina Faso granted SOPAMIB an industrial permit for the Bouboulou gold project, signaling a shift toward full state operation, with expected output of 7+ tonnes over 15 years and about 1,200 jobs. Guinea’s Iron-Ore Rail Push: Simandou’s 650km CTG rail link is nearing 80% completion, with the main line and 70km spur already operational—positioning Guinea to reshape the global iron ore map. Regional Connectivity Tech: CSquared launched capacity on the 2Africa West submarine cable to reduce landing-station concentration risk and improve resilience for West and Central Africa’s connectivity. Maritime Security Watch: The ICC’s IMB says global piracy incidents fell to the lowest level since 1992, but Somali hostage-taking remains a major concern. Local Supply Chains: Falcon Energy Materials opened a pilot plant in Morocco to produce battery-grade graphite from Guinea-linked supply chains, supporting diversification away from China. Policy & Governance: Six Francophone West African countries adopted shared AI governance guidelines to guide safer, more inclusive national AI rules.

Digital Trade & Ports: Conakry Terminal rolled out IES (iPAKi External Site), a 24/7 online platform to handle documents, electronic payments, exit vouchers and real-time tracking—aimed at speeding up Guinea’s supply chain workflows. Mining Infrastructure: Simandou’s $27B rail push is nearing the finish line, with the CTG heavy-haul corridor approaching 80% completion and early test shipments—key to breaking the iron ore duopoly. Gold Production Watch: Predictive Discovery says its Kiniero gold mine in Guinea beat expectations, running above nameplate throughput and improving recovery to 90.5% in the June quarter. Mining Sector Governance: Burkina Faso granted an industrial mining permit to state miner SOPAMIB for the Bouboulou gold project, signaling Sahel-wide moves toward stronger state control of extraction. Regional Connectivity & Resilience: CSquared added capacity on the 2Africa West cable to reduce landing-hub concentration risk and strengthen West/Central Africa internet resilience. Local Industry & Logistics: Renault Trucks marked a decade with UMS in Guinea’s bauxite sector, with 350 trucks in service running around the clock in Boké. Energy & Materials Supply Chains: Falcon Energy Materials opened a Morocco pilot plant to qualify battery-grade graphite supply linked to Guinea—supporting diversification away from China.

Port Digitalization: Conakry Terminal rolled out IES (iPAKi External Site), a 24/7 online platform to handle document processing, secure payments, and real-time tracking—aimed at speeding up Guinea’s supply chain workflows. Mining & Production: Predictive Discovery says its Kiniero gold mine in Guinea outperformed, with throughput averaging 1,113 t/h (about 9m tonnes/year) and gold recovery at 90.5%, supporting strong first-half output. Bauxite Logistics: Renault Trucks marked a decade with UMS in Guinea’s Boké bauxite belt, with 350 trucks running around the clock and over 66 million km logged since 2016. Mining Governance & Rights: A Business and Human Rights Centre report flags rising allegations of abuse tied to large-scale transition minerals, calling for stronger rules and better community benefits. Infrastructure Push: Simandou’s $27B rail link is nearing completion, with test shipments beginning—positioning Guinea to challenge global iron ore supply dynamics. Local Demand: Guinea fowl sales in Nova Scotia are surging as homeowners seek natural tick control, reflecting growing interest in insect-eating poultry.

Mining & Rights: A new Business and Human Rights Centre report flags rising allegations of abuse tied to large-scale transition minerals, as US/EU push faster clean-energy supply deals. Infrastructure & Industry: Guinea’s Conakry Terminal rolled out the IES digital platform to speed up document processing, electronic payments and real-time tracking for supply-chain operations. Iron Ore Push: Simandou’s $27B rail link is nearing climax, with the CTG corridor approaching 80% completion and test shipments beginning—aimed at breaking the iron-ore duopoly. Bauxite Logistics: Renault Trucks and UMS marked a decade in Guinea’s bauxite belt, with 350 trucks running 24/7 and 66M+ km logged to keep ore moving to port. Gold Output Watch: Predictive Discovery says Guinea’s Kiniero mine is outperforming, with throughput above nameplate and recovery improving to 90.5%. Governance & Security: DSS detention of a female journalist over a drone ended with her release after IPI intervention. Diplomacy: Sierra Leone’s President Bio received credentials from Nigeria, Jamaica and Angola envoys, with mining and agriculture among cooperation priorities.

Port & Logistics Digital Push (Guinea): Conakry Terminal rolled out IES (iPAKi External Site), a 24/7 online portal for document processing, electronic payments, exit documents and real-time tracking—aimed at speeding up Guinea’s supply-chain workflows. Mining Output Watch (Guinea): Predictive Discovery says its Kiniero gold mine in Guinea ran above nameplate, with throughput averaging 1,113 t/h, recovery at 90.5% and 54,252 oz poured in the June quarter. Bauxite Haulage Scale-Up (Guinea): Renault Trucks marked a decade with UMS in Guinea’s Boké bauxite belt, citing 350 active K-model trucks, 24/7 operations and 66+ million km logged since 2016. Battery Supply Chain (Guinea–Morocco): Falcon opened a pilot plant in Morocco to produce battery-grade CSPG graphite, building an integrated supply chain that links Guinea graphite to Morocco processing. Local Governance & Industry Oversight (Burkina Faso): Burkina Faso granted a permit to state miner SOPAMIB for the Bouboulou gold project, framing it as full state control with 15+ years of operations and projected public revenues. Maritime Security (West Africa): IMB reports piracy incidents in the Gulf of Guinea are low but urges continued vigilance as Somali piracy shows a slight resurgence. Health & Consumer Protection (Liberia): Liberia’s LMHRA seized counterfeit medicines worth about L$400,000 in Bong County, warning that weak testing systems leave patients exposed.

Port Digitalization: Conakry Terminal rolled out IES (iPAKi External Site), a 24/7 online portal to handle documents, secure payments, and real-time tracking—aimed at speeding up Guinea’s supply-chain workflows. Bauxite Logistics: Renault Trucks marked a decade with UMS in Guinea’s Boké bauxite belt, with 350 K-model trucks running around the clock and over 66 million km logged since 2016. Gold Output Watch: Predictive Discovery says its Kiniero gold mine in Guinea beat nameplate performance in Q2, with throughput above target and gold recovery at 90.5%, supporting first-half production progress. Mining Permits: Burkina Faso granted a permit to state miner SOPAMIB for the Bouboulou gold project, underscoring Sahel-wide moves toward greater state control of mining. EV Battery Supply Chain: Falcon Energy opened a pilot plant in Morocco to produce battery-grade coated graphite, citing an integrated supply chain that links Guinea to Morocco. Local Content & Insurance: Guinea Insurance’s MD urged stronger digital collaboration and local content across oil, gas, and insurance sectors to drive growth. Maritime Security: An IMB update notes piracy incidents fell globally but warns the Gulf of Guinea still faces risk, urging continued vigilance.

Battery Supply Chain: Falcon Energy Materials opened a pilot plant near Casablanca to produce qualification-scale high-purity coated spheronized purified graphite (CSPG), aiming to build a Guinea-to-Morocco graphite route that reduces reliance on China. Guinea Mining Output: Predictive Discovery says its Kiniero gold mine in Guinea ran above nameplate in Q2, with throughput at 1,113 t/h and recovery up to 90.5%, supporting strong first-half production. Bauxite Logistics in Guinea: Renault Trucks and UMS marked 10 years in Guinea’s Boké bauxite belt, with 350 trucks running 24/7 and a fleet clocking over 66 million km, backed by in-house mechanics and telematics-led efficiency. Local Industry & Trade: CBG’s Mr. Karifa Condé received an ABLA 2026 award for port, maritime logistics and trade facilitation leadership tied to CBG’s bauxite export corridors. Regional Policy on AI: Six Francophone West African countries, including Guinea, adopted shared guidelines for ethical, inclusive AI governance. Public Health Risk: Liberia’s LMHRA seized counterfeit medicines worth about L$400,000, underscoring how weak checks can undermine healthcare gains across the region.

Digital Local Content Push: Guinea Insurance’s MD urged stronger oil-and-gas/insurance collaboration through digitalisation and local content to deepen growth and resilience. Guinea Mining Output Watch: Predictive Discovery said its Kiniero gold mine in Guinea delivered “outstanding” performance in Q2, with throughput above nameplate and gold recovery at 90.5%, supporting first-half production progress. Bauxite Logistics Spotlight: CBG’s Karifa Condé won an ABLA 2026 award for port operations and maritime logistics leadership, highlighting Guinea’s export corridor scale. Gold Development in Guinea: Asara Resources reported ongoing drilling at its Kada project in Guinea, with new Massan deposit results pointing to continued growth and a new mineralised zone. Fleet & Transport in Guinea: Renault Trucks and UMS marked a decade-long partnership, running a 350-truck 24/7 fleet in Guinea’s bauxite belt with heavy emphasis on maintenance and efficiency. Regional Maritime Security: IMB reported piracy and armed robbery fell globally but urged vigilance as Somali piracy shows a slight resurgence, while noting improved Gulf of Guinea figures.

Guinea Gold Watch: Predictive Discovery says its Kiniero mine in Guinea delivered “outstanding” performance in the June quarter, with plant throughput averaging 1,113 t/h (about 9Mtpa), gold recovery up to 90.5%, and 54,252 oz poured; first-half output reached 93,619 oz, strengthening Guinea’s position as a closely watched West African gold jurisdiction. Mining Expansion in Guinea: Asara Resources continues drilling to expand the Massan deposit at its Kada project in Guinea, reporting new assay results from Phase 2 and a promising new mineralised zone about 700m south of the current deposit footprint. Maritime Security Context: IMB reports Somali piracy incidents are at their lowest mid-year level since 1992, but warns of a slight resurgence off Somalia and urges vigilance—while noting only two piracy incidents were recorded in the Gulf of Guinea in H1 2026. Regional Energy Deal: Fortuna Mining expects Senegal’s Diamba Sud gold project final construction permit in weeks, highlighting how faster permitting is shaping West Africa’s mining pipeline.

Mining Update (Guinea): Predictive Discovery says its Kiniero gold mine in Guinea delivered 64,026 oz in the June quarter, with throughput averaging 1,113 tonnes per hour—above the 6 Mtpa nameplate—and recovery improving to 90.5%, lifting first-half output to 93,619 oz and pushing the project past the halfway mark of its 2026 guidance. Gold Development (Guinea): Asara Resources reports ongoing drilling to expand the Massan deposit within its Kada project, with new assay results from Phase 2 and earlier intercepts supporting continuity and a promising new mineralised zone about 700 m south of the current deposit. Maritime Security (West Africa): Experts at SPAS 2026 in Nigeria urged African governments to stop relying on foreign powers for maritime protection, calling for stronger navies, modern surveillance and regional cooperation to safeguard the blue economy. Air Connectivity (Region): With SAATM and AfCFTA momentum, airlines are expanding routes and fleets; Air Peace is set to start Lagos–Douala, Libreville, Bamako and Conakry services next month, including Conakry. Shipping & Logistics (Guinea): COSCO SHIPPING Bulk launched a direct China–West Africa breakbulk service, with a Guinea call designed to cut transshipments, transit times and costs for cargo like cement clinker and engineering equipment.

Guinea Mining Update: Asara Resources says drilling is continuing to expand the Massan deposit at its Kada gold project in Guinea, reporting new intercepts and a promising new mineralised zone about 700m south of the current deposit area. Guinea Shipping & Trade: COSCO SHIPPING Bulk launched a direct China–West Africa breakbulk service into Guinea, aiming to cut transshipments, transit times and costs for cargo like cement clinker, engineering equipment and vehicles. Regional Investment Signals: A report on Africa’s FDI rankings puts Guinea among the top recipients (with $7.8bn in 2025), while Egypt leads the continent—useful context for investors tracking West Africa’s capital flows. Energy Access Watch: Liberia’s solar boom highlights how record panel imports are expanding electricity access, but also flags risks like substandard equipment and fire hazards—relevant for regional power projects. Maritime Security: Nigeria and Ghana signed an MoU to deepen maritime cooperation on safety, security, capacity building and joint enforcement in the Gulf of Guinea.

Guinea Mining Update: Predictive Discovery says its Kiniero gold mine in Guinea beat nameplate targets in the June 2026 quarter, with average plant throughput of 1,113tph (~9.0Mtpa) and gold recovery improving to 90.5%; the company reports 64,026oz poured across Kiniero and Nampala, plus A$530M cash and bullion as of June 30. Guinea Gold Exploration: Asara Resources continues drilling to expand the Massan deposit at its Kada gold project in Guinea, reporting new assay results from Phase 2 and fresh intersections beyond the current resource area. West Africa Shipping & Logistics: COSCO SHIPPING Bulk launched a direct China–West Africa breakbulk service, with MV XIN AN PING starting discharging at BOFFA anchorage in Guinea—aimed at cutting transshipment delays and costs for ports across the region. Mining Policy & Sovereignty: At the MOTA 2026 Summit in Paris, African ministers and industry leaders discussed how to grow mining value “above ground” while keeping legal stability to attract global capital. Maritime Security: Nigeria and Ghana signed an MoU to deepen maritime cooperation, including safety, capacity building, joint enforcement, and efforts against piracy and armed robbery in the Gulf of Guinea.

Mining Update (Guinea): Asara Resources says drilling is continuing at its Kada gold project in Guinea, expanding the Massan deposit after Phase 2 assay results added 21 drill holes (2,036 m), with recent intercepts including 40 m at 0.9 g/t and a new mineralised zone about 700 m south of the current deposit. Maritime & Logistics (West Africa): COSCO SHIPPING Bulk launched a direct China–West Africa breakbulk service, with MV XIN AN PING starting discharges at BOFFA anchorage in Guinea to cut transshipment delays and costs. Regional Trade & Security: Nigeria and Ghana signed an MoU to deepen maritime cooperation on safety, security, capacity building and joint enforcement in the Gulf of Guinea. Aviation Demand (Region): A World Bank Tourism Watch report shows Guinea among countries with rising estimated aviation passenger arrivals in early 2026. Health & Response (Ebola): Russia says its Rospotrebnadzor will support DRC and Uganda with diagnostics and outbreak containment as Ebola cases rise.

Guinea Poultry Push: Guinea launched a national poultry development strategy with about US$563m (5.124tn GNF) aimed at boosting local meat and eggs, cutting imports, and creating 560,000+ jobs across breeding, hatcheries, feed, processing, transport, and marketing. Maritime Trade Links: COSCO SHIPPING Bulk launched a direct China–West Africa breakbulk service, with MV XIN AN PING starting operations at Guinea’s BOFFA anchorage to reduce transshipment delays and costs for cargo like clinker, engineering equipment, vehicles, and steel pipe piles. Regional Shipping Context: Shipping analysts say the Strait of Hormuz remains a major uncertainty for global tanker demand, with disruption and alternative routing shaping rates and volumes. Mining & Infrastructure Signals: Arrow Minerals signed a non-binding MoU with Baosteel to move Simandou North iron ore to steel mills, covering pricing, freight, haulage, handling, loading, and royalties—another Guinea-linked supply-chain step. Aviation Demand in West Africa: World Bank data shows Guinea’s passenger arrivals up 9% in Q1 2026, alongside broader regional growth.