Russia's RUSAL appeals Guinea alumina ruling

MOSCOW, Sept 23 (Reuters) - The world's top aluminium producer United Company RUSAL said on Wednesday it had appealed in Guinea against a local court's decision to retake its alumina unit and was considering an international arbitration in Paris. "We will use all legal means, including international arbitration, to defend our interests as the legitimate owner of the asset," UC RUSAL press office said in an emailed statement. "RUSAL purchased Friguia (bauxite and alumina complex) in full compliance with Guinean legislation and we consider the plant to be our legitimate property," it said, adding that the company was in full control of the plant's activities. Bauxite is a raw material from which alumina, an intermediate product for aluminium refining, is produced. A court in Guinea, the world's biggest exporter of bauxite, said earlier this month the 2006 sale of the Friguia alumina refinery to UC RUSAL was unlawful, and the Guinean state was retaking ownership of its largest industrial operation. Since then, the government has said it is open to talks with RUSAL about the deal. The court's decision is the latest in a string of disputes between the government set up by Captain Moussa Dadis Camara, who took power in a December military coup after the death of then President Lansana Conte, and the foreign mining firms that work in the poor West African country. (Reporting by Aleksandras Budrys; Editing by Keiron Henderson)