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Guinea Inaugurates Simandou 2040 & Morebaya Deep-water Port
11 November 2025 marked the launch of the Simandou iron ore mining project and the first export operations at the new Morebaya deep-water port. A national holiday was announced to celebrate the country’s growing role in global trade.
Simandou: Africa’s Largest Integrated Mining Project
The long-awaited Simandou development is the largest integrated mining and infrastructure project on the African continent. The project is estimated to cost between $20 billion and $24 billion and is funded by an association of international mining companies and the Guinean government, primarily through two main joint ventures: Simfer and Winning Consortium Simandou (WCS). It includes:
- The newly constructed Morebaya deep-water port
- A 552 km trans-Guinean railway linking the mines to the coast
Arrival of the First Vessels
As of mid-November, Morebaya has already received three vessels to begin preparations for the first iron ore shipments: the Köma, the Sanfina, and the Winning Youth.
Initial Export Programme
Guinea has scheduled an initial sequence of 23 vessels, each with a capacity of approximately 12,000 tonnes of iron ore. These early shipments mark the start of operations at what is expected to become a major regional shipping hub. Once fully operational, Morebaya port is projected to accommodate between 1,000 and 3,000 ship calls per year.
Information provided by Budd Guinea (budd.guinea-conakry@budd-pni.com)