Port of Kamsar Expansion: Development of a Greenfield Bulk Terminal in Guinea, West Africa

Guinea has over one-third of the world reserves of bauxite, the raw ore used to produce alumina. Traditionally, the raw ore has been shipped to refineries throughout the world. Global Alumina, a New York based company, has developed a proposal to refine the bauxite near a mine site in Guinea and export the refined product directly to the world market. As part of this program, there is a need to develop a port facility that will be used to export bulk alumina, and also to import other bulk commodities to support the refining operation. This paper describes the planning and design process associated with the port facility. It will discuss navigational issues, ship operations, material handling and storage, yard operations, and rail operations. The paper will also address the logistical issues associated with construction of a marine terminal in a remote location, and presents some of the unique engineering challenges, including dredging, reclamation, and material-handling equipment.