A dream forged in iron: The Simandou story with Aboubacar Koulibaly and Ismael Diakité
The Simandou project in Guinea is the largest greenfield integrated mine and infrastructure project in development in Africa. Unlike mining’s traditional “pit to port” model, Simandou promises to touch every region of the country, bringing development to hitherto neglected communities and transforming Guinea into a key player in the global steel industry.
Kicking off Voices of Africa in 2025, Aboubacar Koulibaly and Ismael Diakité reveal details of this monumental project dubbed the ‘backbone of Guinea’s economy’ and progress towards production of first ore in November 2025.
Produced by Africa Practice, in partnership with the African Minerals Development Centre and the Investing in African Mining Indaba.
Projects of this scale are not only defined by their size but also by their profound impact on people, biodiversity, and the land, making them both complex and significant. – I. Diakité
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