Rio Tinto has reaffirmed its commitment to safety in its recent quarterly update, following the death of a contractor at the SimFer iron ore project in Guinea two months ago.
Mohamed Camara died after an incident at the SimFer mine on August 22, resulting in the immediate suspension of all activity on site.
At the time, Rio Tinto chief executive officer Simon Trott emphasised that “the safety of every member of the workforce” was the company’s “main priority”.
“It is devastating to lose a colleague in this way…we will continue to do everything we can to ensure the safest possible work environment where everyone goes home safely to their family after every shift,” he said in a statement.
Trott has also used the third quarter (Q3) 2025 results to reflect on the event, and recommit to higher safety standards.
“Safety remains our number one priority,” he said. “We are deeply saddened by the tragic death of Mohamed Camara… and are committed to learning across our business to prevent future incidents. This has been a time for huge reflections on safety across the group.”
The statement came as Rio Tinto confirmed that work is well underway at SimFer, with first ore loaded at the mine in October. Around 1.5 million tonnes had been stockpiled at the gate by the end of Q3, and ore is now moving along the completed SimFer rail spur to the main line.
Initial exports will go through the Winning Consortium Simandou port while construction of SimFer’s own port and transhipment vessels continues. First vessel loading is expected in November.
The broader SimFer project is progressing to plan, with permanent processing facilities due online in the second half of 2026. Workforce numbers across mine, rail and port construction have reached 25,200, with 82 per cent Guinean participation.
SimFer is 85 per cent owned by Rio Tinto and partners, with 15 per cent held by the Government of Guinea.
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