Rio Tinto remains on track to deliver its first iron ore production this year at the SimFer mine in Guinea, ramping up over 30 months to an annualised capacity of 60 million tonnes per year or 27 million tonnes per year Rio Tinto shares.
Simfer S.A. is the mining concession covering Simandou Blocks 3 and 4 and is owned by the Guinean State (15%) and Simfer Jersey (85%).
Rio Tinto has a 53% stake in Simfer Jersey, while CIOH owns the remaining 47%.
It said bulk earthworks are progressing to plan at the SimFer mine, despite productivity being impacted by wet weather during the quarter.
“All mine construction contracts are complete, and the two initial crushers are now commissioned, with the first ore crushed on 1 January 2025,” said Rio Tinto.
It said during the fourth quarter all construction milestones for the period stipulated by the government of Guinea were achieved for the SimFer infrastructure scope.
Tunnel excavation activity on the SimFer scope is now more than 75% complete, with construction at the port continuing to advance on the transhipment vessel (TSV) wharf and rail car dumper infrastructure.
Rio Tinto said the TransGuinean railway line, which will connect Simandou's mine operations to the port facilities, with the arrival of track laying locomotives, 8.5 kilometres of rail was installed and in October construction of the 275 metre Milo River bridge was completed.
Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor-In-Chief, Rough & Polished
