Name of the Project
Simandou iron-ore project.

Location
Guinea.

Project Owner/s
Simandou’s mining concession is divided into four blocks.

The project is a partnership between Rio Tinto, Chalco Iron Ore Holdings (CIOH), and a Chinalco-led consortium, Winning Consortium Simandou (WCS), Baowu and the Guinea government.

SimFer Jersey Limited is a joint venture (JV) between the Rio Tinto Group (53%) and CIOH (47%). CIOH is a Chinalco-led JV of leading Chinese State-owned enterprises: Chinalco (75%), Baowu (20%), China Rail Construction Corporation (2.5%) and China Harbour Engineering Company (2.5%).

SimFer is the holder of the mining concession covering Simandou blocks 3 and 4, and is owned by the Guinean State (15%) and SimFer Jersey Limited (85%). SimFer Infraco Guinée will deliver SimFer’s scope of the co-developed rail and port infrastructure, and is a wholly owned subsidiary of SimFer Jersey Limited, but will be co-owned by the Guinean State (15%) after closing of the co-development arrangements.
 
WCS is a consortium of Singaporean company Winning International Group (50%), Weiqiao Aluminium (50%, part of the China Hongqiao Group) and United Mining Supply Group (nominal shareholding). WCS is the holder of Simandou North blocks 1 and 2 (with the government of Guinea holding a 15% interest in the mining vehicle and WCS holding 85%) and associated infrastructure. Baowu Resources has entered into an agreement to acquire a 49% share of WCS mine and infrastructure projects through a Baowu-led consortium, subject to conditions, including regulatory approvals. In the case of the mine, Baowu has an option to increase its shareholding  to 51% during operations.

Project Description
The Simandou mine will be the biggest integrated mine-and-infrastructure project ever developed in Africa. It comprises three core elements: a mine, railway and port, as well as associated infrastructure.

The SimFer JV’s mine concession holds an estimated 2.8-billion-tonne mineral resource, of which 1.5-billion tonnes were converted to ore reserves that support a mine life of 26 years, with an average grade of 65.3%.

There will be an openpit iron-ore operation in the Simandou range, in south-eastern Guinea, with an expected peak production of between 95-million and 100-million tonnes a year.

WCS’s blocks 1 and 2 are expected to produce 40-million tonnes a year, and Rio's blocks 3 and 4 about 60-million tonnes a year.

WCS will built the project's estimated 536 km shared dual-track main line, a 16 km spur connecting its mine to the mainline and the WCS barge port, while SimFer will build the estimated 70 km spur line, connecting its mining concession to the main rail line and the transshipment vessel port.

Associated developments to provide utilities and supporting infrastructure for the project include construction facilities, and access to materials, power generation, water, access roads and accommodation.

New infrastructure will become State property upon completion.

Construction of the project will be undertaken in two stages.

During the first stage, the southern Ouelaba mine site will be developed, which will include the construction of the railway and port to a capacity of about 60-million tonnes a year.

The second stage will result in the northern Pic de Fon mine site being brought on line and the capacity of rail and port facilities being expanded, increasing production to between 95-million and 100-million tonnes a year.

Potential Job Creation
Rio Tinto reported in October 2025 that the workforce across the SimFer scope of mine, rail and port had reached 25 200 with 82% Guinean participation.

Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
Not stated.

Capital Expenditure
At $23-billion, it is Africa’s biggest-ever mining project and could make Guinea the continent’s number-two exporter of minerals and metals by value.

SimFer's capital funding requirement for the Simandou project is estimated at $11.6-billion, of which Rio Tinto's share is $6.2-billion.

Planned Start/End Date
Operations at the project started in November 2025.

Latest Developments
Operations have started, marking a historic milestone for Africa’s largest greenfield mine and infrastructure development.

At a ceremony held at the new port, in Forécariah prefecture, on November 12, 2025, Guinean President Mamadi Doumbouya joined project WCS, Rio Tinto, Chinalco and China Baowu Group to officially launch the start of operations.

The integrated project includes more than 600 km of multiuse trans-Guinean rail, linking the rich iron-ore deposits of south-eastern Guinea to the Atlantic coast, along with barge and transshipment port facilities to allow for bulk exports.

Once fully operational, the system will handle the export of up to 120-million tonnes a year of high-grade iron-ore from the WCS and SimFer mining concessions.

Testing and commissioning of the mine, rail and port infrastructure are under way. Both WCS and SimFer have started transporting iron-ore along the new railway, advancing the project into its startup phase after years of development.

During the ceremony, WCS chairperson Sun Xiushun said the milestone reflected years of collaboration and technical achievement, while Rio Tinto CEO Simon Trott hailed the startup as an “outstanding achievement” and a new chapter for the global iron-ore industry.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
Fluor (construction contractor); NRW Holdings (earthworks contract); Komatsu and its regional distributor BIA Group (critical heavy mobile equipment, or HME, parts and maintenance services for the Simandou project, including five large production excavators, four production loaders and more than 30 ancillary HME vehicles, including dozers, water trucks and small excavators).

Contact Details for Project Information
Rio Tinto, tel +44 20 7781 2000 or email media.enquiries@riotinto.com.
SimFer media enquiries, email Abdourahama.Diallo@riotinto.com.
Chalco, tel +86 10 8229 8103.
WCS,  tel +224 613 55 55 55 or email info@winningafrica.net.