Wedoany.com Report-Nov. 13, Operations have officially begun at the Simandou iron-ore project in Guinea, marking a historic milestone for Africa’s largest greenfield mine and infrastructure development. A ceremony was held at the new port in Forécariah prefecture, attended by Guinean President Mamadi Doumbouya and project partners Winning Consortium Simandou (WCS), Rio Tinto, Chinalco, and China Baowu Group.

The integrated project features over 600 km of multi-use trans-Guinean rail linking the rich iron-ore deposits of southeastern Guinea to the Atlantic coast, alongside barge and transshipment port facilities to enable bulk exports. Once fully operational, the system will handle up to 120 million tonnes per year of high-grade iron-ore from the WCS and SimFer mining concessions.

Testing and commissioning of the mine, rail, and port infrastructure are underway. Both WCS and SimFer have started transporting iron-ore along the new railway, moving the project into its start-up phase after years of development. The project is co-developed by the government of Guinea, SimFer, and WCS. Upon completion of commissioning, ownership and operation of all rail and port infrastructure will transfer to the Compagnie du TransGuinéen (CTG), in which WCS and SimFer each hold a 42.5% stake, and the Guinean government holds 15%.

The start of operations represents the culmination of decades of effort to unlock Simandou, which contains some of the world’s highest-grade undeveloped iron-ore deposits, with estimated reserves of at least three billion tonnes.

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

The Simandou development is expected to position Guinea among the world’s top iron-ore exporters, create thousands of local jobs, and provide a significant boost to the country’s infrastructure and industrial base. The high-grade ore, averaging more than 65% iron content, is expected to attract strong demand from steelmakers aiming to improve efficiency and reduce carbon emissions using higher-quality feedstock.

President Doumbouya highlighted the project’s significance, saying: “Simandou is not just a project for Guinea – it is a project for Africa and for the world.”

At an estimated $23 billion, Simandou is Africa’s largest-ever mining project and could elevate Guinea to the continent’s second-largest exporter of minerals and metals by value. The launch of operations underscores the country’s growing role as a strategic player in global mining while demonstrating the value of international partnerships and large-scale infrastructure investment.

The integrated mine, rail, and port system is a landmark achievement in engineering and industrial development, setting a benchmark for future mining projects across Africa and globally.