• Arrow halts Guinea bauxite project amid permit uncertainty
• Move caused by government revoking 100+ mining licenses, including Arrow’s
• Economic study delayed; company cuts costs, seeks clarity

Arrow Minerals has suspended all activities at its Niagara bauxite project in Guinea pending the resolution of a dispute over the status of its mining permits, the Australian junior miner announced in its half-yearly report on Monday.

In May, Guinea's government revoked more than 100 mining permits and returned them to state control. According to Arrow, this decision also applied to its Niagara permits and its less-advanced Simandou North iron project. Four months later, the company says it is still awaiting official confirmation from authorities regarding the status of its licenses. Arrow needs clarity on the Niagara permit to finalize a preliminary economic study for the project.

"In light of the uncertain regulatory environment, Arrow has prioritised capital preservation by suspending all project-based activities, reducing corporate costs, and maintaining active engagement with relevant Guinean stakeholders," the company said. While Arrow remains confident in the quality of its projects and has completed significant technical work, it stated that further progress depends on resolving the concessions' status with the Guinean government.

Guinean authorities have not yet commented on the matter. The suspension has stalled the development of a bauxite deposit with an estimated 185 million tonnes of mineral resources. The preliminary economic study, which was expected to outline initial operating costs and a mining plan to justify the project's economic viability, was initially due in the first half of 2025. Its publication is now uncertain.

Arrow is not the only mining company to face uncertainty over its permits in Guinea. In a late July report, Resolute Mining also noted a lack of official government communication regarding the status of its revoked exploration permits, which include the Niagassola, Doko, and Siguiri-Kouroussa licenses.

Aurel Sèdjro Houenou