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We supply the metals and minerals used to help the world grow and decarbonise
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Simandou Project
The world’s largest untapped high-grade iron ore deposit
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Sustainability Reporting 2023
As temporary custodians of the land where we operate, we are entrusted with accessing the world’s essential materials and making them available for society’s use
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The Simandou mountain range lies in the south-east of the Republic of Guinea, over a surface area more than 100km. Its subsoils contain the world's largest untapped reserve of high-grade iron ore, estimated at over 2 billion tonnes. Developing a project of Simandou’s scale is a unique opportunity.
Simandou’s mining concession is divided into four blocks. We hold rights to Simandou’s blocks 3 and 4 through Rio Tinto Simfer – a joint venture between Rio Tinto, Chalco Iron Ore Holdings (CIOH), and the Government of the Republic of Guinea. Rio Tinto is the majority shareholder and managing partner of Rio Tinto Simfer.
We are also working with the Government of Guinea and Winning Consortium Simandou (WCS), developers of blocks 1 and 2 of the Simandou mining concession, to co-develop the infrastructure needed to export mined iron ore from the far southeast of the country to Guinea’s maritime borders and beyond. These include 600km of rail infrastructure – spanning the length of the country – as well as port infrastructure on the coast of the Forécariah prefecture in Guinea. To this end, La Compagnie du TransGuinéen (CTG) was incorporated in March 2022. Ownership of the CTG is split between development partners, Rio Tinto Simfer and WCS, each at 42.5% equity share, with the Government of the Republic of Guinea taking a 15% free carry equity stake.
Iron ore is the primary raw material used to make steel. Steel is strong, long-lasting and cost-efficient – making it perfect for everything from cars and fridges to wind turbines and skyscrapers. The premium grade of Simandou iron ore broadens our global portfolio of iron ore products, complementing our existing, long-term iron ore production in Australia’s Pilbara region and in Canada.
Simandou is a complex, uniquely transformative project. From the associated infrastructure corridor to the thousands of jobs the project will create, the project will positively impact the Guinean economy, creating opportunities and development potential which will benefit the people of Guinea for generations to come.
As with any significant development project, challenges will need to be carefully managed, including minimising adverse social, health, safety and environmental impacts while simultaneously fostering positive and tangible change for local communities and other key stakeholders.
Throughout the history of our involvement in the Simandou project, we have maintained regular community consultation forums and sessions designed to maintain dialogue with local communities by addressing questions, concerns and additional opportunities to provide support.
We are committed to developing the Simandou project in line with internationally recognised environmental, social and governance standards. This includes transparently reporting on impacts of our mining operations, and continuing to work alongside local stakeholders on ways of mitigating these impacts. We recognise the responsibility we are entrusted with and see ourselves as long-term stewards of natural resources. We will continue to work alongside communities to ensure the Simandou project is developed with environmental stewardship and social wellbeing at its core.
Rio Tinto has put the net-zero transition at the heart of its business strategy and operations. We are taking steps to decarbonise our mining activities while investing in commodities that enable low-carbon technologies.
The high grade of the Simandou ore makes it an essential resource for reducing the carbon intensity of steel production, and a key enabler of the energy transition.
SYDNEY--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Rio Tinto will provide an update today at its Investor Seminar on the world class Simandou iron ore project in Guinea, which is being progressed in partnership with CIOH, a Chinalco-led consortium, Winning Consortium Simandou1 (WCS), Baowu and the Republic of Guinea. Simandou is the world’s largest untapped high-grade iron ore deposit. The Simfer joint venture’s2 mi
CONAKRY, Guinea--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Rio Tinto and the Simfer1 joint venture (Simfer) reached an important milestone today by concluding key agreements with the Republic of Guinea and Winning Consortium Simandou2 (WCS) on the trans-Guinean infrastructure for the world class Simandou iron ore project. The Co-Development Convention with the Republic of Guinea and associated agreements adjusting
LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Rio Tinto has today resolved a previously self-disclosed investigation by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) into certain contractual payments made to a former consultant over a decade ago in 2011, relating to the Simandou project in the Republic of Guinea. Without admitting to or denying the SEC’s findings, Rio Tinto has agreed to pay a $15 million ci
Immeuble Camayenne Corniche Nord Commune Dixinn BP848, Conakry Republic of Guinea
E: Media Enquiries
E: Procurement Enquiries
We are the majority shareholder and managing partner of Rio Tinto Simfer (SIMFER S.A.) – a joint venture between Rio Tinto, Chalco Iron Ore Holdings (CIOH), and the Government of the Republic of Guinea. Simandou’s mining concession is divided into 4 blocks. Rio Tinto Simfer will develop blocks 3 and 4, known as the Simandou project.
We are also working with the Government of Guinea and Winning Consortium Simandou (WCS), developers of blocks 1 and 2 of the Simandou mining concession, to co-develop the infrastructure needed to export mined iron ore from the far southeast of the country to Guinea’s maritime borders and beyond.
In March 2023, negotiations towards the co-development of project infrastructure progressed with the signing of a shareholder agreement, subject to certain conditions and the resolution of identified outstanding issues, between Rio Tinto joint venture Simfer, Winning Consortium Simandou (WCS) and the Government of Guinea4. The agreement establishes the governance and operations model for la Compagnie du TransGuinéen, and is another step towards securing the cost estimates, schedule, fiscal regime and regulatory authority approvals necessary to progress the co-development of rail and port facilities. We have also progressed upgrade works to camp facilities and other early works.
This paves the way to progress the definitive joint venture arrangements and secure necessary financing to construct more than 600 kilometres of rail infrastructure spanning the length of the country, as well as port infrastructure on the coast of the Forécariah prefecture in Guinea. Rio Tinto Simfer, WCS and the Government of the Republic of Guinea are committed to co-developing the rail and port infrastructure in line with internationally recognised environmental, social and governance standards.
Ownership of the new infrastructure joint-venture company will be split between development partners, Simfer Jersey Ltd and WCS, each at 42.5% equity share, with the Government of the Republic of Guinea taking a 15% free carry equity stake.
The Rio Tinto Simfer joint venture comprises Simfer S.A., which develops the mine and in which the Government of Guinea holds 15% and Simfer Jersey Limited holds 85%. In turn, Simfer Jersey Limited, which co-develops the infrastructure with WCS, is owned by Chalco Iron Ore Holdings (CIOH) (47%) and Rio Tinto (53%). CIOH is currently owned by Chinalco (75%), Baowu (20%), China Rail Construction Corporation (CRCC) (2.5%) and China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) (2.5%).
The incorporation of InfraCo with our partners underscores the importance of the Simandou resource in today's decarbonising world and its development will complement Rio Tinto's strong iron ore portfolio. It is also a very important moment for Guinea and for Guineans, for whom the project's southern infrastructure corridor has the potential to bring significant benefits for regional economic development by leveraging international project and ESG standards. We are most grateful to the Government of Guinea and WCS for their collaboration and look forward to making the promise of Simandou a reality.”
- Bold Baatar, Rio Tinto’s Executive Committee member in charge of the Simandou project and Chief Executive, Copper
4 This followed notification to Rio Tinto and the Government of Guinea, of Baowu’s earlier entry into a term sheet agreement with WCS in respect of an investment into WCS InfraCo and WCS MineCo (blocks 1 and 2) – an agreement welcomed by Rio Tinto. Baowu Resources Co. is a member of China Baowu Steel Group Corporation Limited.
By its very nature, mining and processing disturbs the environment and can impact surrounding communities. Yet it delivers significant economic and social benefits, yielding materials needed for the energy transition and demands of increasing urbanisation. It also creates local employment; small business development; tax and royalty streams; and training, skills, and community development.
Our teams – ranging from archaeologists and economic development experts to human rights specialists and our operational leaders – work closely with communities to understand how our work affects their lives, their culture and their heritage. By doing so, we can respond to community concerns, optimise benefits and work to minimise negative impacts.
Throughout the history of our involvement in the Simandou project, we have maintained regular community consultation forums and sessions designed to maintain dialogue with local communities by addressing questions, concerns and additional opportunities to provide support. This work continues actively as we progress through to the forthcoming phases of construction and operation.
During our Social and Environmental Impact Assessment (SEIA), completed in 2012 and currently under review, we consulted more than 10,000 people. To deliver on our commitment to community development, we then made US$500,000 annual contributions to community development throughout the project’s care and maintenance period from 2016 to 2020.
Initiatives this funding has supported have included learning and basic literacy training for local tradesmen (carpenters, masons), support for agricultural and livestock projects, market gardening cooperative development, as well as the modern butchery initiative to encourage procurement from local livestock herders and meat producers.
With a grant of US$2 million over three years, we are also continuing to invest in vocational training to help establish women-led businesses in the community.
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As some data privacy laws regulate IP addresses and other information collected through the use of cookies as personal data, Rio Tinto’s processing of such personal data needs to comply with its Data Privacy Standard (see Part 1 of our Privacy Policy), and also applicable data privacy laws.
With the exception of the use of cookies (explained below), Rio Tinto generally does not seek to collect personal data through this website. However if you choose to provide personal data to Rio Tinto through this website (for example, by sending us an email), we will process that personal data to answer your query and if relevant, to manage our business relationship with you or your company. We won't process that personal data for other purposes except where required to meet our legal obligations or otherwise as authorised by law and notified to you.
Part 1 of this Privacy Policy contains the Rio Tinto Data Privacy Standard, which provides an overview of Rio Tinto’s approach to personal data processing. There is additional information in the appendices to the Data Privacy Standard, including information about disclosures, trans-border data transfers, the exercise of data subject rights and how to make complaints or obtain further information relating to Rio Tinto’s processing of your personal data.
If you choose to subscribe to our media releases or other communications, you can unsubscribe at any time (by following the instructions in the email or by contacting us at digital.comms@riotinto.com).
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A cookie is a small file of letters and numbers that we store on your browser or the hard drive of your computer if you agree. Cookies contain information that is transferred to your computer's hard drive.
As some data privacy laws regulate IP addresses and other information collected through the use of cookies as personal data, Rio Tinto’s processing of such personal data needs to comply with its Data Privacy Standard (see Part 1 of this Privacy Policy), and also applicable data privacy laws.
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