CONAKRY, Guinea — Guinea’s mining sector has taken a significant step toward strengthening safety, resilience, and sustainable growth with the launch of the first Zero Harm Forum, an industry-wide initiative aimed at embedding proactive risk management into the country’s rapidly expanding extractive sector.
Organized by the Chamber of Mines of Guinea in partnership with NSIA Group, the forum was held in Conakry under the theme “Managing Risks, Accelerating Sustainable Mining Performance.” The event brought together government officials, mining executives, insurers, financial institutions, technical partners, and industry experts to discuss the evolving risk landscape facing Guinea’s mining industry.
The forum comes at a pivotal moment for Guinea, which has consolidated its position as the world’s leading exporter of bauxite while simultaneously advancing policies aimed at increasing local mineral processing and value addition. As the sector transitions from a predominantly extractive model toward industrial transformation, industry leaders emphasized that effective risk management must become a strategic priority.
Opening the event, Karifa Condé, Chairman of the Chamber of Mines of Guinea, described the Zero Harm concept as far more than a corporate slogan.
“Zero Harm is an operational imperative, an ethical obligation, and a fundamental condition for maintaining the social licence to operate,” he said, stressing that industrial performance cannot be separated from worker safety, environmental stewardship, and long-term resilience.
A central theme throughout the discussions was the need to broaden traditional approaches to risk management. Speakers highlighted emerging challenges including occupational health and safety, environmental liabilities, cybersecurity threats, supply chain disruptions, compliance risks, and the protection of strategic mining assets.
Condé outlined four key priorities for the sector: comprehensive risk identification, stronger insurance and financial protection mechanisms, sustainable financing of local content initiatives, and greater sharing of operational experience and best practices across the industry.
The participation of Guinea’s Minister of Mines and Geology, Bouna Sylla, underscored the government’s support for the initiative. Sylla linked the forum’s objectives to the country’s broader industrialization agenda, including the national Simandou 2040 development vision.
According to the minister, Guinea’s mining sector has undergone a profound transformation since 2021, emerging as a major global mining player. However, he cautioned that the ongoing shift from raw ore exports toward domestic processing introduces new operational and industrial risks that require more sophisticated management frameworks.
“Moving from bauxite to alumina means moving from mining operations to industrial processing,” Sylla noted. “This evolution requires us to anticipate and manage industrial risks more effectively.”
The forum also highlighted the growing role of insurance and financial institutions in supporting mining sustainability. Maïmouna Barry, Managing Director of NSIA Assurances Guinea, emphasized that risk mitigation is essential for protecting investments and ensuring long-term economic growth. She argued that resilient mining ecosystems are built through collaboration among operators, regulators, financiers, and insurers.
One of the event’s most significant outcomes was the call for a stronger culture of shared responsibility across the mining value chain. Industry veterans, including Ismaël Diakité, contributed insights on occupational health and safety practices, reinforcing the message that prevention must become a core component of operational excellence.
As Guinea continues to attract billions of dollars in mining investment, particularly around major projects such as Simandou Project, the Zero Harm Forum signals a growing recognition that sustainable mining success will depend not only on production volumes but also on the sector’s ability to manage risks, protect people, and safeguard the environment.
The inaugural forum is expected to become a recurring platform for advancing best practices and strengthening Guinea’s ambition to build a globally competitive, responsible, and resilient mining industry.
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