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Rio Tinto produces iron ore for steel, aluminium for cars and smart phones, copper for wind turbines, diamonds that set the standard for responsible sourcing, titanium for household products, and borates for crops that feed the world.
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Mining and processing, by its very nature, can have disruptive impacts on the environment, including on local communities. At the same time, mining also delivers significant economic and social benefits to communities, including employment, local business development, tax and royalty streams, as well as education and health programmes. Our goal is always to maximise these benefits and minimise any disruptive impacts as much as possible.
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The Simandou project is imminently due to become the world’s largest greenfield mining project and the largest ever undertaken on the African continent. This once-in-a-generation megaproject will not only place Guinea on the world stage as a top global producer of high-quality, low impurity iron ore, it will also set a new benchmark for large scale project development throughout the region.
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Rio Tinto hosts ESSOR closing ceremony to celebrate young Guinean innovators

December 15, 2025

Conakry, Republic of Guinea – Rio Tinto hosted the ESSOR ceremony at “la Cité des Sciences et de l’Innovation” in Conakry, marking the conclusion of its annual skills-building programme for students across Guinea. The event brought together students, educators, government representatives, and Rio Tinto officials to celebrate outstanding talent and foster opportunities for young innovators.

ESSOR

ESSOR, a Rio Tinto programme designed to inspire vocations and strengthen the skills of Guinean youth, delivers impact through workshops and engagement sessions held nationwide. This year, the team travelled to six universities across the four regions of Guinea to meet students, share guidance, and support their professional development. At each university, Rio Tinto experts shared knowledge and taught skills in areas such as human resources, artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship and project management.

The closing ceremony marked the culmination of the 2025 programme, with six exceptional student projects selected from an initial pool of 150 submissions, representing the highest levels of creativity, problem-solving, and potential impact.

Rio Tinto Simandou Project’s Managing Director, Gerard Rheinberger, stated: “Simandou is more than a mining project. It is transformative. It is human. And above all, it opens up new opportunities for the people of Guinea; opportunities they will shape, lead, and own. Through ESSOR, our education and training program, we see the next generation rising with confidence and skill, and we are exceptionally proud of the students who embody the spirit of Wontanara.”

The ESSOR programme demonstrates Rio Tinto’s commitment to creating long-term value for Guinea beyond mining operations. By investing in education, innovation, and human capital, the Simandou project continues to empower the next generation of leaders and innovators, ensuring its benefits extend across the country and into the future.