Simandou

Community engagement at Rio Tinto's Simandou iron ore 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 our 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.

Rio Tinto has been working with villages surrounding the project since exploration first started in 1997.  Relationships with communities have been advanced through activities such as development of seven schools, health clinics and youth centres, community radio infrastructure, medical training and education, and scholarships and education programs in Beyla, Kerouané and Conakry.

Rio Tinto is also funding projects with the Nzérékoré Forestry Management Centre, extensive biodiversity studies with Conservation International, an agricultural development and water infrastructure projects.

Our commitment to local hiring and procurement wherever possible has already resulted in the flow of tens of millions of dollars to Guinea through wages, taxes and purchasing.  The current mine, rail and port plan anticipates creating tens of thousands of jobs during the construction phase and more than 4,500 full-time jobs during the operational phase.

To find out more, please visit http://www.riotintosimandou.com/.