The President of the Republic of Guinea at the moment joined venture companions WCS, Baowu, Chinalco and Rio Tinto in a ceremony on the port in Forécariah prefecture to mark the beginning of operations at Simandou, Africa’s largest greenfield built-in mine and infrastructure venture.
The venture is delivering greater than 600 km of recent multi-use trans-Guinean rail along with barge and transhipment vessel port services. Following commissioning and ramp up, this infrastructure will assist the export of a mixed complete of as much as 120 Mt/y of mined iron ore by SimFer and WCS from their respective Simandou mining concessions within the southeast of the nation.
Testing and commissioning of the mine, rail and barge port system infrastructure is underway, with each WCS and SimFer having commenced the transport of iron ore from mine gate to the port by way of the trans-Guinean rail line, the companions say.
The venture is being co-developed by the Authorities of the Republic of Guinea, SimFer and WCS. As soon as commissioned, all co-developed infrastructure and rolling inventory shall be transferred to and operated by the Compagnie du TransGuinéen (CTG), by which Simfer and WCS every maintain a 42.5% fairness stake, with the Authorities of Guinea holding the remaining 15%.
Djiba Diakité, Minister and Chief of Employees to the President of the Republic and Chairman of the Simandou 2040 Strategic Committee, stated: “Simandou is greater than a mining venture: it’s the driving pressure behind a nationwide transformation. This collective success displays the imaginative and prescient of the Head of State and the willpower of a whole nation to construct a way forward for shared prosperity. This inauguration marks a foundational milestone for Guinea, which now stands as a key participant in sustainable improvement and financial sovereignty in West Africa.”
Successful Consortium Chairman, Solar Xiushun, stated: “This milestone displays years of laborious work and powerful partnership. Successful Consortium is proud to have delivered on our dedication and to face with our companions in bringing Simandou into operation.”
Rio Tinto Chief Govt, Simon Trott, stated: “This excellent achievement has been made attainable by way of the devoted laborious work of hundreds of our colleagues, and the complementary strengths and experience of Rio Tinto, our SimFer companions, the Authorities of Guinea and Successful Consortium Simandou.
“At present we’re unlocking an distinctive new supply of high-grade iron ore that’s in demand from prospects for low-carbon metal making, enhancing our world-class portfolio of iron ore mines within the Pilbara and Canada.”
Chinalco President, Wang Shilei, stated: “The beginning of operations of the Simandou venture is a crucial achievement guided by the consensus reached by the heads of state of the 2 international locations. It displays the joint efforts and pragmatic cooperation between China and Guinea, contributing to Guinea’s industrialisation and modernisation course of. Chinalco is dedicated to working along with all companions to totally implement the outcomes of the Summit of the Discussion board on China-Africa Cooperation in Beijing, advance the high-quality improvement of the Simandou iron ore venture, take concrete actions to ship on the Belt and Highway Initiative, and promote the continued deepening of the excellent strategic partnership between China and Guinea.”
Chairman of China Baowu Group, Hu Wangming, stated: “The beginning of operations of the Simandou venture marks a major milestone within the historical past of the worldwide mining trade. All through the event course of, all events have maintained a broad perspective and a long-term imaginative and prescient, adhering to the ideas of market orientation, rule of regulation, and internationalisation, guaranteeing the venture’s development with excessive requirements and top quality. The secure provide of Simandou’s premium iron ore sources will present a stable basis of low carbon uncooked supplies for the event of China’s metal trade and the worldwide metal sector. We firmly consider that this exemplary cooperation will inject lasting momentum into the financial and social improvement of Guinea, the host nation of the venture.”
