Rio Tinto Launches SIMANDOU, The Largest And Most Ambitious Mining Project In The World

Written by Valdemar Medeiros

Published on 10/01/2024 at 11:59

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After Almost Three Decades of Waiting, the Ambitious Mining Project in Simandou, Southeast Guinea, Finally Becomes a Reality. Rio Tinto, in Collaboration with Other Miners, Leads This Long-Awaited Undertaking.

For over 27 years, Rio Tinto has held the concession to explore the riches of the Simandou mountains, located in southeast Guinea. At that time, the vision was to materialize an ambitious mining project that encompassed the creation of two iron ore mines, the construction of a railway, and the building of a new port, along with the construction of dozens of bridges and tunnels. The total estimated investment was around US$ 20 billion. This landmark undertaking is finally taking shape after nearly three decades of planning.

Simandou Mining Project Could Become a Reality Soon

Since then, however, a series of setbacks, including three coups in the African country, have delayed the plans of the Anglo-Australian miner, and the idea never progressed. However, it now seems that this is about to change.

The Financial Times reported today that Rio Tinto plans to begin construction of the mining project later this year, and it has already received authorization from Beijing to start. According to the FT, some workers are already active on the railway in Simandou, and the aim is to commence construction of the mines soon.

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Railway for the Mining Project Will Span 552 Km

Given the scale of the project in Simandou, which is too costly for a single miner to bear, it will be developed in partnership between Rio Tinto, the Government of Guinea, and at least seven other companies, including five Chinese ones.

The FT reported that Rio Tinto will build one of the mines, known as the Simfer project, in partnership with a consortium led by Chinalco. The second mine, known as the WCS project, will be developed by Baowu, the world’s largest steel producer, in partnership with a consortium led by Winning International Group, a Singaporean company.

At the same time, the companies involved jointly financed the construction of the railway, which will span 552 km and connect the Simandou mountains to the sea, where a new port will be built to export the production. Rio Tinto and the Chinalco consortium will also need to finance an additional stretch of the railway, 70 kilometers long, that will connect their mine to the main railway line.

Rio Tinto Will Invest US$ 6.2 Billion

The estimate is that Rio Tinto’s share of the project’s capex will be around US$ 6.2 billion, more than the company has invested annually over the past five years. In addition to the superlative figures, the Simandou project is significant for the quality of the iron ore found there.

The ore that Rio Tinto plans to extract has an average steel concentration of over 65%, one of the highest in the world and similar to the ore from Carajás, the largest business of Vale. High-grade ore has become even more valuable in recent years, as it is the only type that can be used in more sustainable steel production processes, a key focus for steelmakers looking to reduce emissions.

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Valmir de jesus oliveira

#148860

18/07/2025 16:45

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Rio Tinto Launches SIMANDOU, The Largest And Most Ambitious Mining Project In The World

After Almost Three Decades of Waiting, the Ambitious Mining Project in Simandou, Southeast Guinea, Finally Becomes a Reality. Rio Tinto, in Collaboration with Other Miners, Leads This Long-Awaited Undertaking.

Simandou Mining Project Could Become a Reality Soon

Railway for the Mining Project Will Span 552 Km

Rio Tinto Will Invest US$ 6.2 Billion

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Rio Tinto Launches SIMANDOU, The Largest And Most Ambitious Mining Project In The World

After Almost Three Decades of Waiting, the Ambitious Mining Project in Simandou, Southeast Guinea, Finally Becomes a Reality. Rio Tinto, in Collaboration with Other Miners, Leads This Long-Awaited Undertaking.

Simandou Mining Project Could Become a Reality Soon

Railway for the Mining Project Will Span 552 Km

Rio Tinto Will Invest US$ 6.2 Billion

While in Brazil a 10-story building takes 2 years to complete, in China a company stacks pre-fabricated modules and raises the entire building in just 28 hours and 45 minutes.

BRICS is preparing a payment system inspired by the Brazilian PIX that will allow direct transactions between countries using national digital currencies without relying on the dollar or Western banks as intermediaries.

The oldest tree in the world, alive since before the birth of Jesus Christ, is cut down in a scientific study and the case changes environmental preservation rules.

An entire island in the Pacific wants to surround itself with a colossal barrier against the ocean to try to escape increasingly violent waves and not be swallowed by the sea in the coming decades.

After ten days orbiting the Moon, science confirms that the astronauts of the Artemis II mission return with altered bodies.

Peru built a tunnel at an altitude of 4,738 meters cutting through the Andes Mountains, and the road leading to it reaches 4,818 meters, making it the highest paved road in the entire world.

Brazilian cities shining from space impress in a new image from NASA that reveals São Paulo, Rio, BH, and other urban centers during the historic Artemis II mission, which also captured the Moon like never before.

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