Guinea’s military government has cancelled 129 mineral exploration permits to tighten control over the country’s resources, the Ministry of Mines said late on Monday.
A senior ministry official said the permits, mainly for gold, were revoked to free up unused resources for new investors. “The system is now digitised and better controlled,” the official told Reuters, speaking anonymously.
It was unclear if major investments were affected by the move.
Earlier this month, Guinea retracted 51 mining licenses, including those for bauxite, gold, diamond, graphite, and iron, that were idle or not yet operational. Bauxite licences from Kebo Energy SA and Emirates Global Aluminium were among those previously revoked.
Guinea, home to the world’s largest bauxite reserves, is a key supplier to China.
The move mirrors actions by other military governments in Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso to crack down on foreign miners and boost state revenues.