Guinea’s giant Simandou iron ore project, which is expected to start exports in two years’ time, is set to contribute to the world’s decarbonization efforts, according to Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO).
“With an iron content of nearly 65% and few impurities, Simandou project will make Guinea a key player,” Lawrence Dechambenoit, head of external affairs at Rio Tinto, said in a speech in the capital, Conakry.
“Simandou iron can be refined using less energy-intensive technologies that emit less carbon dioxide during the transformation into steel,” he said at an event to mark the second anniversary of Compagnie du TransGuinéen, a joint-venture set up by the Guinean government and its industrial partners to develop the world’s largest iron ore reserve.
The special purpose vehicle is owned 42.5% each by Rio Tinto and Winning Consortium Simandou and 15% by the Guinean state.
The project entails the exploitation of 8 billion tons in iron ore deposits, with an estimated annual output of 160 million tons, said Djiba Diakite, chairman of the Simandou strategic committee.
The project plans as much as $15 billion investment in the mines, a port and 650-kilometer railway, of which 100 kilometers has been built so far, Diakite said.
Simandou is divided into four blocks, with blocks 1 and 2 controlled by Winning Consortium Simandou, backed by Chinese companies including Baowu Group, while Rio and Aluminum Corp. of China, known as Chinalco, own blocks 3 and 4.
(By Ougna Camara)
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