Simandou

Community engagement at Rio Tinto Iron Ore's Simandou project in Guinea, Africa, is focused on the involvement of local communities, government and regional administrations, and independently funded non-government organisations to ensure a sustainable development approach to the new project.

The Simandou project, which will comprise a major mine, a 700km railway and a new deepwater port, has the potential to have a positive economic and social impact nationally and on the local area.

Significant social and environmental baseline studies are underway to create environmental and social impact assessments which will be matched with RTIO's development plans. These assessments influence business and government planning to ensure a sustainable development approach to the project. All baseline studies and surveys have been conducted in close consultation with the communities.

Relationships with communities have been advanced through activities such as the building of a bridge outside Beyla, literacy classes, support for local football teams, and the provision of diesel to support health services such as vaccination programmes.

Rio Tinto has been working with villages surrounding the project since exploration first started in 1997. The project workforce comprises more than 300 people, with employees drawn from local communities where possible.

To find out more, please visit www.riotintosimandou.com.