The Simandou mountain range in southeastern Guinea, once a dense forest where exploration teams relied on GPS and helicopters to navigate, has yielded vast reserves of its sought-after high-grade iron ore after decades of delay.
16:09
How China is reshaping its economic ties with Africa
How China is reshaping its economic ties with Africa
Major works for the railway and deep water port started in 2022, and the massive infrastructure – involving 206 bridges and four tunnels through challenging terrain – was built at an unprecedented speed.
This was made possible not only by the ambition of Rio Tinto and Chinese firms to secure the valuable iron ore, but by a forceful Guinean government’s military-like mandate, China’s logistical and engineering capacity enabling the rapid construction and massive financial muscle among the partners to break a crucial deadlock.
The launch of the project at Morebaya port on November 11 was attended by top Guinean officials as well as Chinese and regional African leaders.
In November, standing at the peak of the mountain rich in iron ore, Aitchison reflected on the scale of the transformation and the milestone reached.
