The Guinea Simandou Mining Project

The Guinea Simandou mining project is scheduled to begin production at the end of 2025. It is considered the world's largest iron ore mining project with high-quality deposits.

It consists of four blocks with iron ore reserves totaling approximately 4.41 billion tons, divided between two consortia: Rio Tinto and Chalco (China) control Blocks 3 and 4. Winning Consortium Simandou (WCS), part of Singapore-based Winning International Group and its Chinese partners, controls Blocks 1 and 2. The project requires an extensive infrastructure component, including nearly 600 km of railway and a deep-water port on Guinea's Atlantic coast to facilitate ore exports. The annual production capacity will reach approximately 120 million tons of iron ore, making it the world's largest high-quality iron ore mine, crucial for steel production and the green transition. The Guinean government plans to invest 5% of mining revenues in improving the country's education system to ensure that local communities benefit from the mineral wealth. Delayed for decades due to political instability, ownership disputes, and legal challenges, the project is now moving forward with significant investments, with over $15 billion spent to date. Major shareholders include Rio Tinto, China's Baowu Steel Group, Chalco, and the Winning Consortium, with Baowu recently becoming a major shareholder after acquiring the rights from WCS. First deliveries are expected in early 2026. Production will be fully ramped up by 2028. Once this occurs, Guinea's GDP could potentially increase by 26% by 2030. In summary, the Simandou Project represents a milestone in the development of mining and infrastructure in Guinea and has the potential to become one of the world's most important suppliers of high-quality iron ore, with significant economic and social impacts for the country.