Guinean authorities sent security forces to stop RUSAL from exporting alumina from Conakry port on Wednesday, sources with knowledge of the company's operations said, but the Russian firm said operations had not been disrupted.
The measure was taken due to a row over pollution caused by the firm's operations in the West African nation, the sources said.
Guinea's environment minister Papa Koly Kourouma told Reuters an official decision on the pollution issue was imminent.
"You cannot continue work while polluting," Kourouma said.
RUSAL issued a statement in Russia denying exports had been halted. It said the situation at the port was not connected with RUSAL's activities.
"We hope that the respective governmental bodies will clear up this misunderstanding," it said.
"RUSAL's facilities work as normal and deliveries of bauxite and alumina proceed according to the schedule," the statement said.
RUSAL's Friguia refinery in Guinea has capacity for 640,000 tonnes of alumina a year which the Russian firm ships around the world for further refining into aluminium. The refinery is located at Fria, 160 km from the capital Conakry.
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