Dapilon-Santou Rail Project: Guinea’s Strategic Bauxite Corridor

The Dapilon-Santou Rail Project is a heavy-haul railway line engineered to serve as the primary logistics backbone for Guinea’s burgeoning bauxite mining industry in the Boké Prefecture. This 135 km standard-gauge line establishes a dedicated, high-capacity corridor connecting the Santou and Houda mining areas with the Dapilon fluvial terminal. It is a critical component of a $3 billion integrated mining, refining, and logistics investment aimed at solidifying Guinea’s position as a global leader in bauxite supply.

Project Fact Sheet

Technical Specifications

The Dapilon-Santou line was constructed to handle high-axle-load freight trains dedicated to bauxite transport. The route navigates Guinea’s challenging topography through significant civil engineering works, including 23 bridges and two major tunnels, which collectively represent an investment of approximately $1.2 billion. The infrastructure includes six maintenance and operational depots strategically placed along the corridor to ensure high availability and efficient logistics management. The single-track, standard-gauge line is designed for future integration into Guinea’s national railway network, providing long-term strategic value beyond its primary function. While specific signaling systems have not been detailed publicly, the line is operated to modern freight standards to maximize throughput and safety for the transport of millions of tonnes of bauxite annually.

Strategic Importance: Key Takeaways

• Economic Transformation: The railway is the linchpin of Guinea’s strategy to enhance its bauxite export capacity, directly increasing state revenue and stimulating economic activity throughout the Boké region.
• Integrated Value Chain: As the first phase of a three-part investment, the railway enables the expansion of the Santou II and Houda mines (Phase 2) and is foundational for the planned construction of a 1 mtpa alumina refinery (Phase 3), moving Guinea up the aluminum value chain.
• Model for Infrastructure Investment: The project’s success, driven by a multinational consortium of Guinean, Chinese, and Indonesian partners, serves as a blueprint for large-scale, resource-focused infrastructure development and international collaboration in West Africa.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the primary purpose of the Dapilon-Santou railway?

The primary purpose of the Dapilon-Santou railway is to transport bauxite ore efficiently and cost-effectively from the inland Santou II and Houda mines to the Dapilon fluvial terminal on the Rio Nuñez for export. This dedicated freight corridor replaces less efficient road transport, enabling a massive increase in export volume.

Who built the Dapilon-Santou railway?

The Dapilon-Santou railway was developed by the SMB-Winning Consortium, a joint venture comprising Winning Shipping (Indonesia), UMS (Guinea), Shandong Weiqiao (China), and the Republic of Guinea. The primary construction contracts for the railway’s main sections were awarded to specialized Chinese firms, including the China Railway 14th Bureau Group and the China Railway 18th Bureau Group.