Tue, 01:44 30 Dec 2008 GMT17

 

Guinea fuel protests halt alumina export trains
05 Nov 2008 13:31:16 GMT
Source: Reuters
(Adds quotes, details of stoppages, RUSAL denial, background)

By Saliou Samb

CONAKRY, Nov 5 (Reuters) - Fuel price protests in Guinea's capital Conakry have forced Russian aluminium maker RUSAL's Friguia subsidiary to halt trains carrying alumina for export from the city's port, company officials said on Wednesday.

Violent protests over a less-than-anticipated cut in fuel prices have gripped the coastal city since Monday.

"Obstacles on the railway at Enco 5 and the destruction of a railway security barrier have obliged factory authorities to stop trains since yesterday for security reasons," said one company official, who declined to be named.

"There were huge blocks of rock and barricades."

RUSAL's head office in Moscow denied disruption to trains.

"There was no ... disruption in train(s) carrying alumina for export. And there is no problem with fuel supply," a company spokeswoman said in an emailed statement to Reuters.

Enco 5 is one of the Conakry suburbs worst hit by this week's protests, in which crowds of youths have blocked streets with burning barricades and pelted rocks at police and soldiers, who have fired live rounds and tear gas in response.

Security sources say at least two people have been killed and state television reported late on Tuesday that hundreds of youths had been arrested for taking part in the protests.

"This situation has prevented the arrival of oil stocks which were absolutely necessary (to power the refinery) because we are running out," the company official said.

It was not clear when oil stocks would run out.

CRISIS MEETINGS

"There's a risk of total stoppage of the factory if the oil doesn't come soon," said an administrative official at Friguia.

The company, which is projected to produce 527,000 tonnes of alumina this year, was holding crisis meetings on how to restart the trains, said the official, who declined to be named.

"The information that we were given indicates that there has been a barrage of rocks on the railway. Negotiations are under way to find a solution," said legislator Cheikh Tidiane Traore, a member of the parliamentary mines commission.

"This kind of action is harmful to the economy and not in the interests of the country," he said.

Guinea is the world's top exporter of bauxite, the raw ore used to make aluminium, but most of its people remain poor. Friguia is the only plant in Guinea which refines bauxite into alumina, which is then exported to be smelted into aluminium.

Before this week's protests, residents angry over poor public services had twice deliberately halted bauxite export trains in other parts of the country in the past month. At least one person was killed during each of those protests.

Guinea's government said on Tuesday it had launched negotiations to end the fuel protests after the minister of security visited the suburbs affected by rioting.

"There is a wish on our part to revise the price of fuel downwards," said government spokesman Tibou Kamara.

Conakry's governor outlawed public gatherings until further notice on Sunday after the government cut fuel prices by around 20 percent -- far less than the fall of more than 50 percent since world oil prices reached record highs in July <CLc1>.

More than 130 people were killed early last year during a violent general strike against President Lansana Conte's then 23-year-old rule, most of them shot dead by soldiers and police. (Writing by Katrina Manson and Alistair Thomson, Editing by Peter Blackburn)
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Soldiers are seen at the military camp Alpha Yaya Diallo in Connakry December 27, 2008. Guinea's military junta was boosted by the endorsement of neighbouring Senegal as it attempted to garner ...



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