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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 Simfer successfully completes construction of key rail spur infrastructure

April 4, 2025

All bridge piers and abutments on SimFer scope now complete.

Kérouané, Republic of Guinea — Rio Tinto SimFer, the joint venture between the Government of Guinea, Rio Tinto and China Iron Ore Holdings (CIOH), today announced the completion of key infrastructure required as part of the project’s development. Construction teams have now successfully completed the construction of all the pillars and abutments required for the 5 bridges located on the rail spur linking Simandou’s mining blocks 3&4 in Beyla to the TransGuinéen main line in Kérouané.

The 45 piers and 10 bridge abutments that have been completed represent, when stacked vertically, a total length of 852 metres, 24 metres more than the Burj Khalifa, the tallest man-made structure ever built. The tallest pillar rises 27.5 metres from the ground, approximately the height of a 10-storey building.

Over the past few weeks, SimFer’s rail spur construction teams have also been commissioning the track-laying machine, designed to be fed with 100m length of pre-welded track. This machine is now operational and can lay up to 500 metres of track per day, four times more than manual methods. Track-laying operations are expected to ramp up progressively over the coming weeks as teams continue to be trained on the safe use of the equipment.

Chris Aitchison, Managing Director of SimFer, said: “Alongside an ambitious construction schedule, we continue to prioritise the health and safety of our employees and the communities, as our top priority. We are proud of the progress made so far in delivering SimFer’s project infrastructure in accordance with internationally recognised standards and specifications.”.

In October 2024, Rio Tinto SimFer inaugurated Bridge No. 2, named the 25th March 2022 Bridge, which, along with the four other bridges currently under construction, forms key infrastructure for the rail spur that will transport high-grade iron ore from Simandou Blocks 3&4 to the port of Morebaya via the TransGuinéen railway. Production at SimFer’s mine gate is expected by the end of 2025, with annualised production expected to ramp up to 60 million tonnes of iron ore over a 30 month period.