The approximately $US 1.4bn project is one of the largest foreign investments in the West African country, and involves the development of a 12 million-tonne-per-annum bauxite mine, upgrading of existing rail infrastructure along the Sangarédi - Kamsar transport corridor, construction of 27.7km of new track, and a new export port terminal at Kamsar.

The total senior loan facility is $US 750m.

IFC is providing a total loan facility of $US 330m for the project, including syndicated debt from seven commercial banks. The Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund (EAIF), part of the Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG), is lending $US 40m over 14 years.

MIGA has committed political risk guarantees of up to $US 129m to the lenders.

The project is expected to generate $US 50m in government revenues each year. IFC is also working with GAC to implement a $US 4.4m advisory services programme through which GAC can increase its social and economic development interventions and enhance benefits to host communities.