In Guinea, the president of the transition, Colonel Mamadi Doumbouya is increasing the pressure on the two mining giants, Winning Consortium Simandou and Rio Tinto Simfer, involved in the exploitation of the iron deposit of Mount Simandou in the extreme south-east of the country, estimated at several billion tons. Friday, June 18, during an audience at the presidential palace, he did not fail to express to the mining operators his disappointment with the progress of the project.
With our correspondent in Conakry, Mouctar Bah
Colonel Mamadi Doumbouya is not happy with the heads of mining companies operating in the gigantic Simandou mining deposit and for good reason: since March, a tripartite framework agreement had been signed between the various partners, which is slow to take shape.
” Since March 25, 2022, we had agreed on a number of commitments by signing the framework agreement for the co-development of the Simandou project. Since then, we have noticed a discrepancy between your vision of the implementation of the terms of the framework agreement and our expectations. This situation is not only regrettable, but above all unacceptable for the Guinean State. »
If this project were realized, Guinea could regain the ” path to economic take-off “, according to experts. That is why ” Guinea has great expectations in terms of the economic benefits of these projectsexplains Colonel Mamadi Doumbouya. The question of respecting local content is essential and non-negotiable for me.
The spokesperson for partners of Guinea in this project recognizes that there are efforts to be made, but with the personal involvement of the Head of State, there is hope, says Fadi Wazni: “Given the magnitude of the project, it takes the combined efforts of everyone to get there. A committee has been set up, with which we will implement all the instructions of the Head of State. »
The Guinean leader has imposed a 14-day deadline for the creation of the company agreement responsible for the exploitation of Simandou, whose iron reserves are estimated at more than 4 billion tons.