About us
Our Vision
SimFer’s vision is to operate the Simandou mine safely, responsibly and efficiently, creating lasting value for our employees, partners, local communities and the Republic of Guinea.
We are committed to achieving the highest international standards in safety, operational excellence, environmental stewardship, and contribution to the country’s economic and social development.
Our Values - Wontanara
Wontanara is at the heart of SimFer’s identity.
Meaning “We are together” in Susu, it reflects our commitment to working as one team, united by shared values and a common purpose.
Every day, Wontanara shapes how we protect our people, operate our business, collaborate with our partners, and contribute to the development of local communities.
Grounded in care, courage and curiosity, this culture helps us build a strong, responsible and forward-looking organisation.
Because at SimFer, our success depends on what we achieve together.
Our Values - Amafènè
At SimFer, safety always comes first.
Amafènè, meaning “Look around you” in Malinké, is the foundation of our safety culture. It is built on three simple but essential principles: Observe, Think and Act.
Observe your surroundings to identify potential hazards. Think about the risks before making a decision or carrying out a task. Act when something does not seem safe, helping to protect our colleagues, partners, communities and ourselves.
Amafènè reminds us that safety is everyone’s responsibility and that every action matters in preventing incidents.
Simandou Project
Located in the southeast of Guinea, the Simandou mountain range is home to some of the highest-grade iron ore in the world.
Once complete, Simandou will be Africa’s largest mine and related infrastructure project – combining an integrated rail and port servicing two independent mining operations.
The Simandou Project includes:
- SimFer S.A.’s mining project covering exploration and operation of blocks 3 and 4 of the Simandou Range. SimFer S.A. is the joint-venture between the Government of the Republic of Guinea and SimFer Jersey Limited, which in turn a joint venture between Rio Tinto and Chalco Iron Ore Holdings (CIOH), a Chinalco-led joint venture of leading Chinese SOEs, including Baowu.
- Winning Consortium Simandou’s mining project covering exploration and operation of blocks 1 and 2 of the Simandou Range. WCS MineCo is a joint-venture between Winning Consortium Holdings and Baowu.
- With their affiliated companies, SimFer Infraco Guinée S.A., WCS Ports S.A. and WCS Railway S.A, are delivering a codeveloped and co-funded 600-kilometre TransGuinéen multi-use railway; and port on the Morebaya river South of Conakry.
Based on the co-development agreement, the WCS entities are responsible for constructing the 600km main rail line up to a tie-in point in the Kérouané region, a 16 km rail spur connecting its blocks 1 and 2 to the main line and a barge wharf in Morebaya.
In parallel, SimFer Infraco Guinée S.A. is building a 78 km rail spur to connect blocks 3 and 4 to the main rail line and a transhipment vessel (TSV) port expansion in Morebaya.
Whilst the scopes are being separately developed by the SimFer and WCS entities, they are equally funded.
Once complete, the whole port and rail infrastructure ownership will be transferred to and operated by La Compagnie du TransGuinéen (CTG), the joint venture between the Government of Guinea, SimFer Infraco and WCS Infraco.
Rio Tinto
Rio Tinto est une des plus importantes sociétés minières au monde, produisant du minerai de fer pour l’acier, de l’aluminium pour les voitures et les smartphones, du cuivre pour les éoliennes, des diamants qui établissent la norme en matière d’approvisionnement responsable, du titane pour les produits ménagers et des borates pour les cultures qui nourrissent la planète.
L’entreprise est présente dans 34 pays, emploie plus de 61 000 salariés dans les mines, les fonderies et les raffineries, ainsi que dans les bureaux de vente, les centres de données et les laboratoires de recherche et de développement.
Rio Tinto détient 53% de SimFer Jersey Ltd, qui détient à son tour 85 % de SimFer S.A., propriétaire des blocs 3 et 4 de Simandou.
Chalco Iron Ore Holdings (CIOH)
Chalco Iron Ore Holdings (CIOH) est une coentreprise, dirigée par Chinalco et regroupant de grandes entreprises publiques chinoises dont Baowu, China Rail Construction Corporation et China Harbour Engineering Company.
CIOH et Rio Tinto ont créé une société commune, SimFer Jersey Ltd, pour investir ensemble dans le développement des blocs 3 et 4 du projet Simandou.
CIOH détient 47 % de SimFer Jersey Ltd, qui détient à son tour 85 % de SimFer S.A., propriétaire des blocs 3 et 4 de Simandou.
Nous sommes fiers de travailler avec nos partenaires à travers le monde pour réaliser le potentiel du projet Simandou.
Our workforce & suppliers
At SimFer, we are proud of our workforce more than 17,000 people, over 75% are Guinean nationals.
Local procurement spend with Guinean businesses has reached US$1.345 billion in 2026. We are working to create local employment opportunities, support local communities, catalyse opportunities for local businesses and strengthen skills within the Guinean workforce.
* All data to end September 2026
Our Leadership
Mqokeleli “Kox” Gomba
Director General
Mqokeleli “Kox” Gomba is Rio Tinto’s Chief Operating Officer, Iron Ore, Guinea and Director General of SimFer.
Kox has extensive mining operations and industrial leadership experience, including nearly eight years with Rio Tinto. Prior to joining Simandou in May 2026, he served as Chief Operating Officer of Richards Bay Minerals in South Africa.
At SimFer, Kox leads all areas of the business with a firm focus on safety, operational performance, production readiness and the efficient delivery of mining activities as Simandou transitions from construction to operations.
Kox studied at the Gordon Institute of Business Science and has completed executive programmes at the University of the Witwatersrand and the University of Cape Town.
Aboubacar Koulibaly
General Manager, Corporate Affairs and Deputy General Director of SimFer
Aboubacar Koulibaly joined Rio Tinto in 2024, bringing more than 20 years of leadership experience across international development and public service in Africa and the United States, including senior roles with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Government of Guinea.
Aboubacar is responsible for leading Rio Tinto’s activities in Guinea, with a particular focus on strengthening collaboration with our partners and promoting economic development across the country.
Aboubacar holds a master’s degree in Public Administration from France’s École Nationale d’Administration (ENA) and has completed executive education programmes at Duke University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Harvard University.
Francis Pérani
Chief Financial Officer
Francis Pérani brings more than 15 years of experience in the mining and metals industry with Rio Tinto, as well as six years of experience in Africa, including two years as Chief Financial Officer of Compagnie des Bauxites de Guinée (CBG).
Francis oversees the financial activities of the Simandou project and supports its long-term economic performance. He has managed large-scale projects and operations, primarily in the bauxite and aluminium sectors.
Francis graduated from Sciences Po Paris and holds an MBA from HEC Montréal.
Therese Dower
General Manager, HSE
Therese Dower joined the Simandou project in 2024 with nearly two decades of global experience in the mining and construction sectors.
Therese oversees a portfolio involving safety, occupational health, emergency response, medical and environment, focusing on fatality prevention and environmental impact mitigation.
Therese holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental management from The University of Queensland and a Graduate Certificate in Project Management from the University of South Australia.
Eric Planque
General Manager, Mine Services and Logistics
Eric Planque joined the Simandou project in 2021 and brings more than 15 years of experience in operations management with Rio Tinto, where he held a range of leadership roles across the mining sector.
Eric oversees operations across the country, including activities in Conakry and at the mine site, with a strong focus on safety, operational performance and logistics efficiency. He also ensures the effective coordination of key support services critical to the successful delivery of the project.
Eric graduated from Polytechnique Montréal.
Daniel Benefer
General Manager, Operations
Daniel Benefer joined the Simandou project in May 2026, bringing more than 27 years of experience in the mining industry. Prior to joining Simandou, he was General Manager of Rio Tinto’s Brockman 4 mine in Western Australia.
Daniel leads Simandou’s operations. He brings extensive operational leadership experience across large-scale mining operations, with a focus on building capable teams, strengthening operational discipline, and delivering sustainable performance.
He holds qualifications in Maintenance and Asset Management from CQUniversity, along with diplomas in Management and Project Management from the Australian Institute of Management.
Tanja Rasmussen
General Manager, Communities and Social Performance
Tanja Rasmussen brings more than 20 years of international experience in social performance, human rights and corporate responsibility, gained across a range of roles with companies including Glencore and Rio Tinto.
Tanja leads Simandou’s communities and social performance activities, with a strong focus on stakeholder engagement, human rights and creating sustainable value for local communities.
Tanja holds a Master’s degree in Social Anthropology and Ethnography, as well as a Bachelor’s degree in the same field, from Aarhus University.
Mike Castel
Simandou Project Director
Mike Castel has been part of the Simandou Project since 2024. He brings 25 years of experience in project development across the energy and resources sectors, having held senior leadership roles with Shell and worked on major international projects across five continents.
Mike leads the delivery of the Simandou project, with a strong focus on safety, strategic planning, risk management and successful project execution.
He holds Master’s degrees in Construction Engineering and Management from Purdue University and Civil Engineering from the École Supérieure des Travaux Publics in France.
Kate Johnson
General Manager, Project Services
Kate Johnson brings nearly 30 years of experience across a range of industries and regions. A qualified civil engineer, she has held leadership roles in project management, infrastructure and construction.
Kate oversees a multidisciplinary team of project professionals and is responsible for all aspects of project services, including cost control, planning and scheduling, contracts and procurement, reporting, and document and data management.
Kate holds a degree in Civil and Structural Engineering from Queensland University of Technology and a Graduate Certificate in Project Management from Deakin University.
Robbie Tilley
Head of Security
Robbie Tilley brings extensive experience in enterprise resilience, regional security and crisis management. A former British Army officer, he has a strong track record in developing and implementing effective security and resilience strategies.
Robbie leads security operations across the Simandou project, with a focus on protecting people, assets and operations while supporting business continuity and crisis preparedness.
Robbie is known for his collaborative leadership approach, multilingual capabilities and ability to build strong relationships across diverse teams and stakeholders.
Sabrina Marlier
General Manager, Human Resources
Sabrina Marlier brings more than 30 years of experience in human resources and leadership, including 28 years in the mining industry, with organisations such as Glencore, Koniambo Nickel and Société Le Nickel.
Sabrina leads operational readiness, workforce transition and talent development initiatives. She also focuses on strengthening Guinean leadership capability and fostering a respectful and inclusive workplace culture.
Sabrina holds a diploma in Commerce, Business and Communication from the South Pacific School of Management and Commerce and an Executive Master’s degree in Strategic Human Resources Management from HEC Paris.