Tragedy at Simandou: Dark Shadows Over Guinea's Rail and Port Development

A series of unreported worker fatalities have marred the construction of a railway and port in Guinea aimed at tapping into the massive Simandou iron ore deposit. Accidents and safety lapses have highlighted operational flaws under the management of Winning Consortium Simandou, raising questions about adherence to safety standards.

A routine night shift turned tragic for 32-year-old Alseny Camara at the Simandou project in Guinea, as a forklift accident claimed his life. The accident was part of a larger trend of unreported worker fatalities linked to the ambitious railway and port construction.

Internal reports reviewed by Reuters indicate that there have been six deaths from June 2023 to November 2024, linked to the Winning Consortium Simandou's management. These incidents underscore a severe gap in safety standards, further evidenced by documented maintenance failures and insufficient medical facilities.

These safety issues arise amidst a backdrop of accelerated deadlines for iron ore production, prompting criticisms that schedule and budget have taken precedence over worker safety. The Guinean government has launched an inquiry, while Rio Tinto and its partners pledge to improve protocols amid ongoing concerns.

(With inputs from agencies.)