Winning Consortium Simandou

Spotlight | Guinea
Strike exposes labour fault lines at Baowu-Winning led Simandou mining complex

As a widespread protest shook up its iron ore mine, the Chinese-Singaporean consortium is confronted with mounting anger over working conditions and secrecy surrounding accidents, which are sometimes fatal.

Subscribers only Infrastructure, Mining 25.05.2026

Workers' protest in the city of Kérouané, Guinea, on 5 May 2026.

Guinea
Mamadi Doumbouya's visit to Paris takes shape

Diplomats from both countries are working to organise the Guinean junta chief's trip to France, which should take place in the coming months. On the agenda are French investments in Guinea, particularly in relation to the Simandou mining mega-project.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 30.04.2026

President Mamadi Doumbouya, in Conakry on 3 November 2025.

Spotlight | Guinea
Trump administration goes on charm offensive to win over Doumbouya

US diplomats are courting Guinea's newly elected president in the hope of establishing high-level dialogue. Washington is seeking to strengthen its foothold in Conakry, where Beijing is already firmly established.

Subscribers only Defence, Business, Diplomacy 15.01.2026

Montage of US President Donald Trump and his Guinean counterpart Mamadi Doumbouya.

Guinea
Robert Friedland's Nimba project still stalling in Conakry

The American-Canadian billionaire has managed to wrest significant concessions from Liberian President Joseph Boakai to ship the iron ore he plans to extract from one of his deposits. But his teams have not yet managed to persuade the Guinean authorities to authorise production.

Subscribers only Mining 13.01.2026

Starting point of the existing railway network in Yekepa, Liberia, in June 2021.

Spotlight | Guinea
Simandou megaproject kickoff: the actual figures

Announced with great fanfare on 11 November, transportation and exports of iron by the Compagnie du Transguinéen and the two consortia led by Baowu and Rio Tinto respectively have in fact only just begun.

Subscribers only Infrastructure, Mining 09.12.2025

Aerial view of the 650km plus railway line connecting Simandou to the port of Morebaya, in the Nzérékoré region of Guinea, on 4 November 2025.

Guinea
With Simandou trains ready to roll, Compagnie du Transguinéen left on the platform

Owned by the Guinean state and two consortiums that will exploit the huge Simandou iron ore deposit, the CGT is far from taking over the management of the mining project's rail and port infrastructure, which is still mainly in the hands of Chinese groups.

Subscribers only Infrastructure, Mining 15.10.2025

The railway at the Simfer mining complex in the Simandou mountain range in the Nzerekore region, on 2 September 2025.

Spotlight | Guinea
Rio Tinto and Baowu put final touches on Simandou megaproject

With rail construction now complete, work on the mineral port in Morebaya is in full swing. Consortiums WCS and Simfer will ship iron ore from two separate river terminals. While construction is well coordinated, organising the launch of rail and port operations is complex.

Subscribers only Infrastructure, Mining 28.07.2025

Construction of the Simfer quay at the port of Morebaya, Guinea, 10 July 2025.

Guinea
How France's Egis and Setec survived ousting from Simandou project

Thanks to the support of the Simandou Strategic Committee, Egis and Setec were not ousted from the mining mega-project, even though the WCS and Simfer mining groups tried to put pressure on Conakry.

Subscribers only Mining 12.03.2025

Guinea
China's Baowu beefs up its Simandou workforce

Baowu Steel has strengthened its teams on the Mount Simandou iron ore megaproject, with around 150 people, mainly from China.

Subscribers only Mining 25.02.2025

Guinea
Simandou mega-project: change of communications team

Forward Global's communications arm 35°Nord lost its contract with Winning Consortium Simandou in late September.

Subscribers only Mining 23.09.2024

Spotlight | Guinea, Liberia
Mining magnate Robert Friedland's fall from favour in Guinea and Liberia

The North American tycoon no longer has privileged access to presidential palaces in West Africa, and his ambitious projects have been sidelined. Guinea junta leader Mamadi Doumbouya and President Joseph Boakai of Liberia no longer believe in his plans.

Subscribers only Mining 14.05.2024

Robert Friedland during the CRU's World Copper Conference in Santiago, Chile, 9 April 2019.

In Focus | Guinea
Behind the scenes of Mamadi Doumbouya's offensive on Russian miner Nordgold

The Guinean junta is keeping up pressure on the gold group owned by Russian oligarch Alexey Mordashov to get payment of a $200m debt. But the billionaire still has strong connections within the local mining sector, enabling Nordgold to continue to export gold to Dubai in breach of Western sanctions.

Subscribers only Mining 08.04.2024

Guinea
New mines minister regains control of Simandou iron ore project

Appointed last week, Bouna Sylla has established himself as a key player in this major iron ore project. A shrewd negotiator who is well known in government circles, he will need to restore order in a ministry that's currently in crisis.

Subscribers only Mining 20.03.2024

New mines minister Bouna Sylla on 14 March 2024.

Guinea
China and US groups battle for Trans-Guinean contract

A Chinese and a US firm have both positioned themselves respectively on a major contract for the signalling and supply of locomotives for the future Trans-Guinean railway. The French giant Alstom is also taking a quiet interest in the project.

Subscribers only Infrastructure 04.03.2024

Spotlight | Guinea
Robert Friedland's Nimba iron ore dilemma

The US-Canadian financier bought the vast iron project four years ago, but Guinea's ruling junta is showing little interest in developing it, and UNESCO has yet to give its essential green light.

Subscribers only Mining 29.02.2024

Robert Friedland at the World Materials Forum in Nancy, France, on 18 June 2022.

Guinea
Rio Tinto puts finishing touches to Simandou mining project

The UK-Australian giant has been busy selecting subcontractors and discussing the sale price of iron with its Chinese buyers as it awaits its partner Chinalco's financial commitment to the project, hopefully in March. Rio Tinto has also been in talks with the Guinean junta.

Subscribers only Mining 26.02.2024

Spotlight | Guinea
Strike exposes labour fault lines at Baowu-Winning led Simandou mining complex

Guinea
Mamadi Doumbouya's visit to Paris takes shape

Spotlight | Guinea
Trump administration goes on charm offensive to win over Doumbouya

Guinea
Robert Friedland's Nimba project still stalling in Conakry

Spotlight | Guinea
Simandou megaproject kickoff: the actual figures

Guinea
With Simandou trains ready to roll, Compagnie du Transguinéen left on the platform

Spotlight | Guinea
Rio Tinto and Baowu put final touches on Simandou megaproject

Guinea
How France's Egis and Setec survived ousting from Simandou project

Guinea
China's Baowu beefs up its Simandou workforce

Guinea
Simandou mega-project: change of communications team

Spotlight | Guinea, Liberia
Mining magnate Robert Friedland's fall from favour in Guinea and Liberia

In Focus | Guinea
Behind the scenes of Mamadi Doumbouya's offensive on Russian miner Nordgold

Guinea
New mines minister regains control of Simandou iron ore project

Guinea
China and US groups battle for Trans-Guinean contract

Spotlight | Guinea
Robert Friedland's Nimba iron ore dilemma

Guinea
Rio Tinto puts finishing touches to Simandou mining project

Guinea
UMS to recover rerouted mining plane after lengthy legal battle

Guinea
Simandou work still on hold as contractors wait for funds to be released

Guinea
Inside the Baowu-Winning Consortium Simandou iron project deal

The New Guard
Kenya, South Africa, Morocco, Guinea

KenyaMary Mutula, from reality TV to activism

South AfricaChrispin Phiri, justice ministry spokesman and rising ANC star

MoroccoSamia Jlil, co-founder of Women For Cyber Africa

GuineaMambi Magassouba combines mining and writing novels

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About Africa Intelligence

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Indigo Publications' websites

Ibrahim Traoré

Virtus Minerals

Paul Kagame

Savannah Energy

Denis Sassou-Nguesso

Winning Consortium Simandou

Spotlight | Guinea Strike exposes labour fault lines at Baowu-Winning led Simandou mining complex

Guinea Mamadi Doumbouya's visit to Paris takes shape

Spotlight | Guinea Trump administration goes on charm offensive to win over Doumbouya

Guinea Robert Friedland's Nimba project still stalling in Conakry

Spotlight | Guinea Simandou megaproject kickoff: the actual figures

Guinea With Simandou trains ready to roll, Compagnie du Transguinéen left on the platform

Spotlight | Guinea Rio Tinto and Baowu put final touches on Simandou megaproject

Guinea How France's Egis and Setec survived ousting from Simandou project

Guinea China's Baowu beefs up its Simandou workforce

Guinea Simandou mega-project: change of communications team

Spotlight | Guinea, Liberia Mining magnate Robert Friedland's fall from favour in Guinea and Liberia

In Focus | Guinea Behind the scenes of Mamadi Doumbouya's offensive on Russian miner Nordgold

Guinea New mines minister regains control of Simandou iron ore project

Guinea China and US groups battle for Trans-Guinean contract

Spotlight | Guinea Robert Friedland's Nimba iron ore dilemma

Guinea Rio Tinto puts finishing touches to Simandou mining project

Guinea UMS to recover rerouted mining plane after lengthy legal battle

Guinea Simandou work still on hold as contractors wait for funds to be released

Guinea Inside the Baowu-Winning Consortium Simandou iron project deal

The New Guard Kenya, South Africa, Morocco, Guinea

KenyaMary Mutula, from reality TV to activism

South AfricaChrispin Phiri, justice ministry spokesman and rising ANC star

MoroccoSamia Jlil, co-founder of Women For Cyber Africa

GuineaMambi Magassouba combines mining and writing novels

Recommended keywords

About Africa Intelligence

Subscription

Africa Intelligence on social media

Indigo Publications' websites

Spotlight | Guinea
Strike exposes labour fault lines at Baowu-Winning led Simandou mining complex

Guinea
Mamadi Doumbouya's visit to Paris takes shape

Spotlight | Guinea
Trump administration goes on charm offensive to win over Doumbouya

Guinea
Robert Friedland's Nimba project still stalling in Conakry

Spotlight | Guinea
Simandou megaproject kickoff: the actual figures

Guinea
With Simandou trains ready to roll, Compagnie du Transguinéen left on the platform

Spotlight | Guinea
Rio Tinto and Baowu put final touches on Simandou megaproject

Guinea
How France's Egis and Setec survived ousting from Simandou project

Guinea
China's Baowu beefs up its Simandou workforce

Guinea
Simandou mega-project: change of communications team

Spotlight | Guinea, Liberia
Mining magnate Robert Friedland's fall from favour in Guinea and Liberia

In Focus | Guinea
Behind the scenes of Mamadi Doumbouya's offensive on Russian miner Nordgold

Guinea
New mines minister regains control of Simandou iron ore project

Guinea
China and US groups battle for Trans-Guinean contract

Spotlight | Guinea
Robert Friedland's Nimba iron ore dilemma

Guinea
Rio Tinto puts finishing touches to Simandou mining project

Guinea
UMS to recover rerouted mining plane after lengthy legal battle

Guinea
Simandou work still on hold as contractors wait for funds to be released

Guinea
Inside the Baowu-Winning Consortium Simandou iron project deal

The New Guard
Kenya, South Africa, Morocco, Guinea