The Guinean government is pushing Rio Tinto and its partners to build local refineries as part of the Simandou project, which has the potential to become the world’s largest and highest-quality new iron ore mine. Officials argue that merely exporting the ore is insufficient and that processing it within the country would bring economic benefits, create new job opportunities, and support development in sectors such as agriculture, education, and infrastructure. This push comes after Guinea canceled several bauxite agreements due to slow progress on refinery projects.
Guinea’s Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, Ismael Nabe, said: “The ore must be processed here. Building refineries is part of our plan.”
The project also includes the construction of a 600-kilometer railway and a new deep-water port. The mine is expected to produce 120 million tons of high-quality iron ore annually, with first shipments planned for November 2025.
All these developments indicate that some African countries are increasingly aiming to secure more local gains from their mining projects and making it a priority.
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