Business Chief USA December 2019

DRA GLOBAL
Bel Air Bauxite
220
In 2017 DRA Global was
awarded the contract for the
development of a port facility
and associated infrastructure
for the export of bauxite, by
Alufer Mining in Guinea. The
Alufer Bel Air Mine project was
DRA’s first causeway
development, which expanded
the company’s exposure within
the marine environment. Bel
Air was expected to have an
initial production rate of 5.5
million tonnes per annum and
included a 22.5km haul road
running over eight river
crossings, an export facility
with the ROM tip that feeds a
6500-tonne live capacity
stockpile, and a causeway
extending 1.4km into the
Atlantic Ocean, where a barge
load out berth was constructed.
The scope included all the
necessary infrastructure to
operate the facility:
construction camp, wellfields,
power generation, offices,
laboratory, workshop and
a bailey bridge across the
Koundinde
Work on the project
commenced in January 2017
and was completed in August
2018 before commercial
production was achieved within
the first six months of
operation. Alufer is on target to
reach its annual production
rate of 5.5 million wet tonnes by
the end of 2019. DRA Global’s
extensive material handling,
earthworks and infrastructure
design capabilities have
contributed significantly to
the success of the project.
DECEMBER 2019