Operations have started at Rio Tinto’s Simandou joint venture, Africa’s largest greenfield integrated mine and infrastructure project.
The project is delivering more than 600 kilometres of new multi-use trans-Guinean rail together with barge and port facilities. Simandou will support the export of a combined 120 million tonnes per year of mined iron ore by joint venture exploration company SimFer and Winning Consortium Simandou (WCS) from their respective Simandou mining concessions.
The project is being co-developed by the government of the Republic of Guinea, SimFer and WCS.
Rio Tinto CEO Simon Trott said: “Today we are unlocking an exceptional new source of high-grade iron ore that is in demand from customers for low-carbon steel making, enhancing our world-class portfolio of iron ore mines in the Pilbara and Canada.”
Testing and commissioning of the mine, rail and barge port system infrastructure is underway with WCS and SimFer having commenced the transport of iron ore to the port.
Simandou is divided into four blocks, with Rio Tinto holding rights to blocks 3 and 4 through Rio Tinto SimFer, a joint venture with the Government of Guinea and Chalco Iron Ore Holdings (CIOH).
These blocks contain ore reserves estimated at around 1.5 billion tonnes. Rio Tinto is the majority shareholder and managing partner of Rio Tinto SimFer.
Djiba Diakité, Minister and Chief of Staff to the President of the Republic and Chairman of the Simandou 2040 Strategic Committee said: “Simandou is more than a mining project: it is the driving force behind a national transformation.
“This collective success reflects the vision of the Head of State and the determination of an entire nation to build a future of shared prosperity.
“This inauguration marks a foundational milestone for Guinea, which now stands as a key player in sustainable development and economic sovereignty in West Africa.”
