Reopening will improve access to SimFer mine and surrounding construction.
Beyla, Republic of Guinea – SimFer, the joint venture between the Government of Guinea, Rio Tinto and China Iron Ore Holdings (CIOH), has completed the renovation of the runway at Beyla Airport, extending and paving it to a total length of 1.9 kilometers long. The completion of this new asphalt facility marks an important milestone in the ongoing modernization of this prefectural airport, which is essential for the mining operations of Blocks 3 and 4 of Simandou.
The renovation work, which required the displacement of 800,000 cubic meters of earth, brings the airport into compliance with international civil aviation standards. This includes the installation of an extensive water drainage system, conduits and foundations for the aerodrome’s ground lighting, and automated weather observation systems.
The new terminal, avionics, electrical installations and lighting are expected to be completed by the fourth quarter of 2025. This work will be carried out in parallel with the commissioning of the airport, which will transport employees for the development and operation of the SimFer mine.
Eric Planque, SimFer’s Director of Operations, said: “We are proud to see that the first phase of the renovation of this important aerodrome has been completed with more than 500,000 hours of work without a lost-time safety incident. The modernization of this airport infrastructure will not only improve Beyla’s connectivity to other regions of Guinea but also create significant economic opportunities for the prefecture.”
The airport is expected to handle more than 45,000 passengers per year, providing a vital link to the region. 480 people, mostly local employees, worked for 108 days to finalize the work on the airstrip and the formal approvals by the Government of Guinea for use of the runway were completed this week.
You can see a short video explaining the project here.
