Simandou's time has come

Last updated: 18 July 2025

The Simandou project is breathtakingly immense in both scope and scale.

It’s the largest mining and related infrastructure project in Africa, and currently Rio Tinto’s largest single capital investment.

Its story began about 2.8 billion years ago, when its unique banded iron layers started forming. And today, it’s the world’s largest known untapped reserve of high-grade iron ore, estimated at over 2 billion tonnes.

It’s not just Simandou’s physical scale that’s impressive. Mining this unique deposit has the potential to transform Guinea. It will position the country as the world’s third largest exporter of iron ore, drive long-term economic growth, create internationally competitive opportunities for work and training, stimulate local businesses, upgrade infrastructure, and unlock further international investments.

Simandou’s vast reserves of high-grade iron ore can also help meet global demand for steel while contributing to decarbonising the sector.

I’ve been personally involved with the Simandou project for close to a decade now. From leading the negotiating team that secured our participation, to now overseeing the commercial development of this megaproject, it’s been a journey filled with complex challenges, euphoric breakthroughs, and moments of deep reflection.

As we hover on the cusp of bringing Simandou’s exceptional iron ore product to market, it’s worth pausing to appreciate the many hands that helped pave the road that brought us here – and to prepare for what’s to come.

A legacy in motion

After many years spent paused, Simandou now has unstoppable momentum, with construction of the mine, port and railway well underway, and production expected this year, before ramping up over about 30 months.

The path to this point was not always easy. Our exploration teams first visited the site in 1997 and officially discovered the deposit in 2004. Since then, the project has seen its share of ups and downs during a complex history.

In the latter years of the 2010s, while we were always convinced that this project would play an important role in the global iron ore industry, it was difficult to find a pathway for how Simandou could be developed.

During a site visit to Simandou in 2019, while driving through a village near the project site, children ran alongside our vehicle, clapping and holding signs and calling out for Rio Tinto to return. That moment hit me hard. Despite the multitude of hurdles, it was a stark reminder for me of why this project matters, and who it’s for – Simandou is a source of great potential and hope of the people of Guinea. Their patience has been remarkable and I am so proud that they are now seeing it come to reality.

That catalyst moment became a source of energy for me. It pushed me to keep going, and to advocate for the project, even when things were difficult. And I have been inspired and humbled by how our entire organisation has leaned in with conviction since, to make our present progress possible.

I will always remember our Chair’s words when we made the final decision to pursue the Simandou project: “If not us, then who?”

A unique partnership

Today, global demand for high-grade, low-impurity iron ore is rising, and the Government of Guinea has convened a unique partnership model to develop the necessary infrastructure.

Simandou is a new kind of partnership for us. We’re working hard to build strong bonds of mutual trust and commitment, hand-in-hand with the Republic of Guinea, local communities, suppliers, and employees. At the same time, we’re collaborating with some of our closest Chinese investment partners and customers to realise Simandou’s potential.

Each partner brings something unique to the table. We’re collectively building more than 600 kilometres of new multi-user railway and port infrastructure. At full capacity, Simandou will export up to 120 million tonnes of iron ore per year.

And we’re doing everything we can to do it responsibly. All partners have committed to international standards, including the International Finance Corporation’s Performance Standard framework, which prioritises protecting biodiversity, upholding labour rights, and managing community impacts with care and transparency.

These commitments are foundational for ensuring Simandou delivers sustainable development for the people of Guinea and meets global and local expectations for responsible mining practices.

A complementary iron ore product

We are excited to soon be bringing Simandou’s high-quality iron ore product to the market.

Simandou will strengthen our global iron ore portfolio and our suite of potential solutions to decarbonise the steel value chain.

This project will be transformational. Simandou gives us an unrivalled presence in iron ore across 3 continents. It also expands our offering – which has the potential to be processed with fewer emissions than other ores – to customers at a time when the world is racing to decarbonise.

Our Pilbara operations remain the backbone of our iron ore business, producing 330 million tonnes per year. Our Asian customers’ blast furnaces are optimised for these ores, and we’re working closely with them to optimise their current technology to reduce carbon emissions from steelmaking in the short to medium term.

In parallel, we’re developing technologies that will enable low-carbon steelmaking in the long term. Simandou’s high-grade ore will play a key role in that transition.

For customers outside Asia, since 1954 we’ve been supplying high-grade iron ore from our Iron Ore Company of Canada (IOC), which currently produces around 9 million tonnes per year of iron ore pellets and concentrates. Simandou’s high grade ore complements this, adding more flexibility and resilience to our product mix.

At full production, Simandou will deliver 120 million tonnes per year, 60 million of which will come from SimFer. That’s a significant contribution to our decarbonisation strategy and to the global steel industry’s transformation.

Looking to the future

The Simandou project offers a long-term vision: set to operate for at least a quarter-century and create enduring benefits for Guinea, our business and our partners, and the global iron ore industry.

The speed of progress going on right now at Simandou is impressive, and our partners report they are on track to deliver the non-managed scope. I could not be prouder to see this long-awaited project now coming to fruition.

Simandou’s time has come. It’s the right time, and we’re ready – filled with hope and excitement for the value we will unlock for Guinea and for the world.

Learn more about Simandou

Listen to Bold’s Copper and Simandou - Investor Seminar 2023 address