SIMAFER

What SIMAFER does

SimFer S.A. is a Guinea-incorporated joint venture that holds the exploration and mining rights to blocks 3 and 4 of the Simandou mountain range, one of the world's largest untapped high-grade iron ore deposits estimated at over 2 billion tonnes of reserves. SimFer S.A. is 85% owned by SimFer Jersey Limited, which is itself owned 53% by Rio Tinto and 47% by Chalco Iron Ore Holdings (CIOH), a Chinalco-led consortium of Chinese state-owned enterprises including Baowu (20%), CRCC (2.5%), and CHEC (2.5%); the Government of Guinea holds the remaining 15% of SimFer S.A. Rio Tinto operates the project. The Simandou complex is described as Africa's largest integrated mining and infrastructure development, backed by a total investment of approximately $20–23 billion across the mining concession, a 600+ km multi-use TransGuinéen railway, and the Morebaya mineral port in Forécariah prefecture.

The integrated asset base includes the 70 km SimFer rail spur connecting blocks 3 and 4 to the TransGuinéen mainline via a 275-meter bridge over the Milo River, a Wabtec ES43ACmi locomotive fleet ($277 million contract) meeting UIC 3A and EPA Tier 3 standards, heavy mobile equipment fleets from XCMG and Komatsu, and a dedicated transshipment shuttle vessel programme (starting with Wontanara) that transfers iron ore from shallow-water quay to ocean-going capers. Production capacity is sized at 60 Mt/year for SimFer's share and 120 Mt/year for the full Simandou complex, which would rank among the world's five largest iron ore producers once fully ramped.

SimFer monetises its production through direct B2B sales of high-grade iron ore to global steel manufacturers, with the primary offtake channel running through its Chinese SOE partners Chinalco and Baowu and into Chinese steel mills via CIOH's interest in SimFer Jersey Limited. Pricing is benchmarked to international commodity indices such as Platts IODEX rather than disclosed contract pricing. Operations officially launched in November 2025, the first export vessel departed in December 2025, and the first integrated shipment of over 200,000 tonnes arrived at Dalian, China in March 2026. The workforce is transitioning from a peak construction base above 60,000 to fewer than 15,000 operational positions, with a stated ~80% Guinean employment composition.

Name

SIMAFER

Legal name

SimFer S.A

Website

https://simfer-sa.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

SimFer S.A. is a Guinea joint venture (Rio Tinto 53%, CIOH 47%, Government of Guinea 15%) developing Simandou blocks 3 and 4 high-grade iron ore mine with integrated 600+ km rail and Morebaya port infrastructure, producing 60 Mt/year for export primarily to Chinese steel mills via Baowu and Chinalco partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Iron Ore Mining

NAICS

Iron Ore Mining (212210)

SIC

Metal Mining (1000)

akta.pro primary industry

Iron Ore Logistics & Export Terminals (Rail, Port, Stockyards, Ship Loading) (IMAKAAAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Contract Crushing, Screening & Materials Handling (In-Pit/ROM, Conveying, Stockpiling) (IMAKAKAH)

Keywords

• Iron ore mining
• Mining infrastructure
• Rail logistics
• Port operations
• Commodity export

Headquarters

HQ city

Conakry

HQ country

Guinea

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Iron Ore Mining and Export: SimFer generates revenue through extraction and sale of high-grade iron ore from the Simandou mine. The project produces 60 million tonnes per year (SimFer portion) from blocks 3 and 4, with total Simandou output reaching 120 million tonnes annually. Revenue comes from long-term contracts with Chinese steel manufacturers through joint venture partners Chinalco and Baowu.
2. Iron Ore Sales: Direct commodity sales of high-grade iron ore to global markets, primarily serving Chinese steel industry customers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

SimFer S.A. develops and operates the Simandou blocks 3 and 4 iron ore mining concession in Guinea, extracting high-grade iron ore (estimated reserves of over 2 billion tonnes). The company owns and operates an integrated supply chain comprising a 70 km rail spur, the 600+ km multi-use TransGuinéen railway, and the Morebaya port facility, along with specialized transshipment vessels, to export approximately 60 million tonnes of iron ore per year primarily to Chinese steel manufacturers.

Product overview

SimFer is a joint venture developing the Simandou iron ore project in Guinea, Africa's largest integrated mining and infrastructure project. The company operates blocks 3 and 4 of the Simandou mountain range, extracting high-grade iron ore and exporting it via a multi-use railway (TransGuinéen) and port facilities at Morebaya. The project includes transshipment shuttle vessels for marine operations. SimFer also operates community programs including radio broadcasts (SimFer Kibaro/Khibari) and an internal driver management application (MotionTools).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SimFer Kibaro: Monthly information program designed to share key project information, on-the-ground activities, and major project updates with local communities through rural radio stations. Broadcast on the last Saturday of each month in Koniaké language.
• SimFer Khibari

Products and services

• Simandou Iron Ore High-grade iron ore extracted from Simandou blocks 3 and 4 in Guinea, with estimated reserves of over 2 billion tonnes and SimFer production capacity of 60 million tonnes per year. Sold to global steel manufacturers, primarily Chinese steel mills through joint venture partners.
• TransGuinéen Rail Infrastructure Over 600 km multi-use railway connecting the Simandou mining concession to the Morebaya port, enabling iron ore export and offering passenger and goods transport services across Guinea. Operated through the Compagnie du TransGuinéen (CTG) joint venture.
• Morebaya Port Mineral port facility located in Forécariah prefecture, enabling the export of iron ore from the Simandou project. Operated through the Compagnie du TransGuinéen (CTG) joint venture.
• Transshipment Shuttle Vessels Specialized 41,800 dwt self-unloader vessels designed to transfer iron ore in shallow waters from quay to ocean-going ships, with the first vessel named Wontanara. Reduces anchorage waiting times and supports ramp-up of Simandou exports.
• SimFer Rail Spur 70 km rail spur connecting SimFer blocks 3 and 4 to the main TransGuinéen railway line, facilitating ore transport from mine site to port facilities.

Quantifiable outcome

• IMF projects Simandou could boost Guinea's GDP by 26% by 2030
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.

• Komatsu Ltd and Groupe BIAmajorTechnology or Integration · 1 December 2024Supplier of heavy mobile equipment including 5 production excavators, 4 production loaders, and 30+ auxiliary HME vehicles. Investment commitments in community development, training, and environmental programmes.
• Xuzhou Construction Machinery Group (XCMG)majorTechnology or Integration · 12 August 2024Supplier of heavy mobile equipment including 34x 230t trucks and 6 graders. Contract value over $110 million. Committed to >75% local procurement, 50 annual scholarships, and component rebuild centre for technical training.
• Wabtec CorporationmajorTechnology or Integration · 30 July 2024Supplier of ES43ACmi locomotives for TransGuinéen railway. $277 million contract for dual-cab 4,500HP locomotives meeting UIC 3A and EPA Tier 3 standards.
• Africa Transport, AMA, and GPCmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 18 October 2023Guinean transport companies awarded $120 million in freight contracts over 3 years. Responsible for road freight between Conakry and Canga including specialized and heavy freight transport.
• CR18majorTechnology or Integration · 30 September 2023Construction partner for 75km Beyla-Kérouané railway spur. Completed 4 construction camps with 1,600 capacity each. Exceeded 1 million hours worked without lost-time incident.
• MOTA-ENGILmajorTechnology or Integration · 13 July 2023Guinean subsidiary awarded $300 million contract for early works including earthworks, access roads, sedimentation basins, and erosion control measures for mine and rail infrastructure.
• Government of the Republic of GuineacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner holding 15% equity in CTG (Compagnie du TransGuinéen) infrastructure joint venture and 15% of SimFer S.A. Direct joint venture partner in both mining (SimFer S.A.) and infrastructure (CTG) entities.
• Rio TintocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOperating partner holding 53% of SimFer Jersey Limited. Major international mining company with world-class technical expertise and global market access.
• Chalco Iron Ore Holdings (CIOH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChinalco-led joint venture of Chinese SOEs holding 47% of SimFer Jersey Limited. Composed of Chinalco (75%), Baowu (20%), CRCC (2.5%), and CHEC (2.5%). Primary iron ore offtake partner.
• Winning Consortium Simandou (WCS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint development partner for Simandou blocks 1 and 2. Consortium of Winning International Group (49.99%), Weiqiao Aluminium/China Hongqiao (49.99%), and United Mining Supply. 50:50 infrastructure funding partner with SimFer for TransGuinéen railway and port.
• Compagnie du TransGuinéen (CTG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint venture company to operate rail and port infrastructure. SimFer and WCS each hold 42.5% equity with Government of Guinea holding 15%. Will operate 600+ km multi-use TransGuinéen railway and Morebaya port.
• CR18majorTechnology or IntegrationConstruction partner for railway infrastructure including the 275m Milo River bridge and 78km rail spur. Mobilized 820 workers with 66,000+ training hours completed.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Vale: World's largest iron ore producer, operating the Carajás mine in Brazil. Highly comparable as a major integrated iron ore miner with high-grade reserves and direct seaborne export capability.
• Kumba Iron Ore: South Africa's largest iron ore producer (Sishen and Kolomela mines), majority-owned by Anglo American. Comparable as a high-grade iron ore producer with African operational footprint and seaborne export capability.
• BHP: Operates the Pilbara iron ore business in Western Australia, the largest seaborne iron ore supplier globally. Comparable in scale, product mix, and integrated mine-rail-port business model to SimFer's planned operations.
• Winning Consortium Simandou (WCS): Co-developer of blocks 1 and 2 of the Simandou project and 50:50 infrastructure partner through CTG. Direct peer with comparable reserve quality and shared rail/port infrastructure with SimFer.
• Fortescue Metals Group: Pure-play iron ore producer in the Pilbara, Australia, with integrated rail and port infrastructure (Herb Elliott Port). Comparable as a high-volume seaborne iron ore exporter targeting Chinese steel customers.
• Anglo American: Operates the Minas-Rio iron ore mine in Brazil. Comparable as a mid-to-large scale seaborne iron ore producer targeting Asian steel customers with premium-grade products.

Emerging players

• Champion Iron: Operates the Bloom Lake mine in Quebec, Canada, producing high-grade iron ore concentrate for seaborne markets. Comparable as a focused high-grade iron ore producer competing for premium Chinese steel demand.

Broad incumbents

• Rio Tinto: Global mining major that operates the Pilbara iron ore business in Australia and is SimFer's 53% controlling owner and operator. Directly comparable as a high-grade iron ore producer with integrated rail and port infrastructure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/RioTintoSimfer
• Facebookfacebook.com/riotintosimfer
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/showcase/rio-tinto-simfer
• Instagraminstagram.com/lifeatriotinto

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SIMAFER