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Rio Tinto Mine Death: Guinea Project Halted
16 Feb
Summary
- A contract worker died at Rio Tinto's Simandou iron ore project in Guinea.
- Work at the SimFer mine site was suspended following the accident on Saturday.
- Previous reports indicate multiple worker fatalities at the Simandou project since mid-2023.
Tragically, a contract worker passed away following an incident at Rio Tinto's Simandou iron ore project in Guinea. The company confirmed the fatality and stated that operations at the SimFer mine site were suspended on Saturday, February 15, 2026. CEO Simon Trott is scheduled to visit Guinea this week, emphasizing that employee safety is paramount and vowing to prevent future tragedies.
This incident occurs amidst a backdrop of safety concerns at the vast Simandou concession. A review of internal documents last year revealed six local worker deaths between June 2023 and November 2024 during the construction of associated infrastructure. Since November 2024, at least two additional fatalities have been reported at the project. Rio Tinto acknowledged the complexity of the project and stated ongoing efforts with partners to enhance safety measures.
Rio Tinto holds a 53% stake in the SimFer consortium, responsible for Blocks 3 and 4 of the concession. The remaining share of this consortium is held by Chinese state groups. Separately, Blocks 1 and 2 are operated by a group led by Baowu Winning Consortium Simandou, which owns 85% of that operating company.
