RusAl, Guinea Strike Deal

United Company RusAl said Tuesday that it had agreed on a “strategic partnership” with Guinea and will maintain bauxite and alumina output, a year after the country ordered the company to return some assets.

CEO Oleg Deripaska met Prime Minister Jean-Marie Dore and acting President Brigadier General Sekouba Konate on a two-day visit to Guinea, the company said in a statement.

“We do not plan to decrease bauxite and alumina production at our Guinean facilities,” Deripaska said in the statement. “RusAl has long-term projects in Guinea that will be fully completed.”

The current tax and customs regimes for the Friguia plant will be maintained, while the two sides also agreed on the schedule and terms of development of the Dian Dian bauxite deposit, RusAl said.