RusAl signs letter of intent for integrated aluminium complex in Guyana

Bharrat Jagdeo, president of the South American country of Guyana, used a trip to Moscow last week to sign a letter of intent with RusAl on the construction of an integrated aluminium complex in the country.

RusAl last year completed a take-over of the assets of state-owned Aroaima Mining and renamed it the Bauxite Company of Guyana. It committed at the time to revitalising the operations and to looking at the viability of an alumina refinery.

Last week's letter of intent goes further, suggesting the Russian company is looking at an integrated hydro-electric generation unit, an alumina refinery and a smelter. All are subject to feasibility studies with a Russian technical team expected in the country in March to look at the hydro component.

The earliest targeted start date for the project would be 2011.