The long-awaited integrated Simandou mega-project was officially inaugurated in Guinea on Monday, marking the culmination of more than two decades of development efforts.
Guinean President Mamadi Doumbouya presided over the ceremony at the port of Morebayah, which hosted several African heads of state and international dignitaries.
The launch event was attended by prominent foreign officials, including Presidents Paul Kagame (Rwanda) and Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema (Gabon), Chinese Vice Premier Liu Guozhong, Ivorian Prime Minister Robert Beugre Mambe, and Sierra Leonean Prime Minister David Moinina Sengeh.
The Simandou project is a massive undertaking that combines three essential components: mining, a railway network, and port infrastructure. The total investment for this integrated approach exceeds US$20 billion.
The project is a collaborative effort between the Guinean government and international operators: Baowu Steel, Chinalco, Rio Tinto, and Winning International. The entire operation is coordinated by the Compagnie du TransGuinéen (CTG), which was established in July 2022. Importantly, the Guinean state holds a 15 percent stake in the CTG, ensuring national control over this strategic infrastructure.
The core of the project is the Simandou deposit, which holds high-quality iron ore with a content of 65 percent. This positions Guinea as a key global player in the low-carbon steel sector.
The infrastructure built for the project will serve multiple national purposes: TransGuinéen Railway: Spanning over 650 kilometers of double track, this network connects the mining sites directly to the new port of Morebayah. Critically, this infrastructure is designed to open up the country’s interior regions and facilitate the transport of passengers, general goods, and agricultural products, not just ore.
The Simandou project is framed as the foundational step of the Simandou 2040 Socio-Economic Development Program, a 15-year plan with a total projected investment exceeding US$200 billion.
Djiba Diakite, Minister and Chief of Staff to the President and Chairman of the Simandou 2040 Strategic Committee, stated that the inauguration “marks a foundational step for Guinea, which is now establishing itself as a major player in sustainable development and economic sovereignty in West Africa.”
AC/fss/abj/APA