Guinea Simandou project infrastructure development

The Simandou iron-ore project in Guinea is advancing through infrastructure development and strategic industrial partnerships. The Compagnie du TransGuinéen (CTG) has begun receiving new locomotives to support the operationalization of the TransGuinean railway, a double-track network exceeding 650 kilometers designed to connect mining zones in Beyla and Kérouané to the deep-water port at Moribaya.

To support this expansion, CTG and the American company Wabtec formalized a partnership titled ‘A Stronger Partnership for Guinea’s Future’. This cooperation has evolved into a major long-term services agreement valued at over US$700 million. This contract, which is Wabtec’s largest services deal in Africa, covers the operation and maintenance of a fleet of ES43AC Evolution Series locomotives over a period of more than 14 years.

The agreement includes technical services such as remote diagnostics, component overhauls, and spare-parts management, while also emphasizing local workforce development and partnerships with Guinean companies to foster domestic skills. Combined with previous locomotive orders, Wabtec’s total commitment to the Simandou project now exceeds US$1.2 billion.