Guinea has officially launched the Simandou iron ore megaproject, in what officials describe as a historic milestone toward fulfilling a longstanding national dream.
The inauguration ceremony, held at the Morébaya Port, was attended by President Mamadi Doumbouya alongside his Gabonese and Rwandan counterparts, Brice Oligui Nguema and Paul Kagame, and marked the start of the first iron ore exports to global markets.
President Doumbouya declared the day a national holiday, while Transport Minister Ousmane Gaoul Diallo announced that the project includes the construction of key infrastructure, notably a 650-kilometer railway and a new deep-water port.
Discovered decades ago, the Simandou deposit is known for its exceptionally high-grade iron ore, but its exploitation had long been delayed due to mining rights disputes and the massive investment costs required.
