Conakry, Republic of Guinea – SimFer, the Joint Venture between the Government of the Republic of Guinea, Rio Tinto, and the CIOH consortium led by Chinalco, has provided an update on progress achieved during the first quarter of 2026. The SimFer project continues to advance steadily, with significant milestones achieved, including the successful shipment of iron ore to China and further progress across all infrastructure components.
A key highlight is that Simandou is now exporting product to global markets. The first iron ore left Guinea in December 2025, followed by a full cargo in early February 2026, with this shipment arriving in China in March 2026.
At the end of December, the first SimFer Transhipment Vessel, which will transport iron ore from the Port of Morebaya to oceangoing vessels, was launched at the shipyard in China and is currently being fitted out before travelling to Guinea.
These milestones reflect the project’s growing operational readiness and reinforce market confidence as SimFer continues its ramp-up phase.
Construction across the SimFer scope is progressing at pace. The SimFer mine is now 73% complete 1, reflecting steady advancement of critical mine infrastructure. The SimFer rail spur is mechanically complete and operational, while the SimFer port has reached 75% overall completion1, progressing ahead of plan. Together, these achievements reaffirm the project’s progress as SimFer prepares for the 30-month ramp-up toward an annual capacity of 60 million tonnes.
Chris Aitchison, Managing Director, SimFer said:
“The start of 2026 has been marked by strong progress across all parts SimFer. The ongoing export of iron ore that began in December is a major achievement for the partnership and for Guinea. We are proud of the momentum achieved thanks to the commitment of our teams, contractors and the leadership of the Government of Guinea.”
“In February, we tragically lost one of our colleagues working for a contractor at the mine site. The messages of compassion we received from across the public and civil society were deeply appreciated. This tragic event is a reminder of why safety must remain our absolute priority. Every person working on the project deserves to return home safely after each shift, and we are committed to continuously strengthen our safety systems across all operations.”
SimFer remains committed to delivering the Simandou Project safely, responsibly and in close collaboration with the Government of Guinea, its contractors and local communities. We will continue to provide regular updates as construction progresses and as the project moves further into its operational phase.
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