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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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SimFer provides an update on the progress of the Simandou Project – Q2 2026

June 4, 2026

SimFer updates on continued operational progress and key project milestones achieved.

Conakry, Republic of Guinea – SimFer, the joint venture between the Government of the Republic of Guinea, Rio Tinto and the CIOH consortium led by Chinalco, provided today an update on the continued progress of the Simandou Project. SimFer continues to focus on safe operational ramp-up, infrastructure delivery and sustained engagement across communities, partners and national institutions.

Aboubacar Koulibaly, Head of Rio Tinto Guinea, and Chris Aitchison, SimFer Managing Director, at the press conference on the progress of the Simandou Project in Q2 2026.

Ore is being railed from the SimFer mine to the main rail line via the SimFer rail spur and shipped through the WCS port to international customers, reflecting the project’s growing operational maturity.

Construction and operations continue to progress steadily across all areas of the project. The SimFer mine is approximately 74% complete as of the end of March 2026, with bulk earthworks and permanent process facilities progressing in line with plan, while ore continues to be crushed and stockpiled. The SimFer rail spur is fully operational, with full rail commissioning achieved in Q1 2026. Meanwhile, the SimFer port continues to progress ahead of plan, reaching 78% completion at the end of March, with commissioning expected in Q1 2027.

Several key milestones have recently been achieved, including the shipment of 0.6 million tonnes of iron ore in the first quarter of the year, with first sales realised in China in April, and the arrival of three shiploaders at the Morebaya port. SimFer also celebrated the mechanical completion of its 70 km rail spur, a key piece of infrastructure linking the SimFer mine to the Transguinean main rail line and securing the ongoing ramp-up of ore transportation to international markets. This milestone reflects the successful delivery of a critical component of the project’s integrated logistics chain, achieved with a strong safety performance across construction.

Speaking on the continued progress of the project, Chris Aitchison, SimFer Managing Director, said: “This quarter represents an important phase for the Simandou Project as we continue to build momentum across operations. We are moving from milestone moments to consistent operational execution across the mine, rail and port. The progress we are seeing reflects the strength of our teams, our partners and our contractors, and we remain focused on sustaining this trajectory with an absolute focus on safety above all.”

At the same time, continued efforts have been made to strengthen contributions beyond infrastructure delivery. This included the deployment of a Road Safety Awareness Campaign across eight prefectures, engaging directly with communities, schools and road users, the organisation of a health and safety forum with contractors, and the celebration of the 2026 SimFer Supplier Recognition Awards which highlighted the role of partners in delivering the project responsibly.

The project also continued to invest in people and long-term development, including the departure of the first Guinean seafarer trainees to China, the official transfer of the Dantilia community nursery to local stakeholders, and support for the launch of Guinea’s Centre of Expertise in Economics and Public Policies. In addition, a framework agreement was signed with AGER to support rural electrification along the Simandou corridor, reinforcing the project’s contribution to national development priorities.

SimFer also maintained direct engagement with communities through forums held across the mine, rail spur and port, providing updates on project progress and creating space for open dialogue with local stakeholders.

Speaking on the broader impact of the project in Guinea, Aboubacar Koulibaly, Head of Rio Tinto Guinea, said: “Simandou is not only a mining project, it is a long-term development project for Guinea. We are committed to investing in communities, skills, safety and partnerships across the country. We are working to ensure that the benefits of the project are shared and sustained over time across Guinea. This is central to how we deliver Simandou.”

Taken together, these achievements confirm that the project is progressing steadily toward its planned annual capacity of 60 million tonnes, expected to be reached in H2 2028.

The Simandou Project represents a significant investment in Guinea’s future and remains one of the world’s largest high-grade iron ore developments. SimFer continues to work in close partnership with the Government of Guinea and all stakeholders to deliver the project in a safe, responsible and sustainable manner.

Click here to access our latest SimFer Scorecard.

Click here to access the press release in Chinese.