Guinean President Mamadi Doumbouya opened the first Simandou Mining Summit on Wednesday, 11 November 2026, on Kassa Island near Conakry. The four-day event brings together public officials, mining companies and investors to discuss industrial and infrastructure projects linked to the Simandou iron ore deposit.
Guinea is presenting its Simandou 2040 programme, which outlines an estimated $200 billion of investment over fifteen years. The figure represents the investment volume envisaged in the national roadmap. Projects and partnerships discussed at the summit have their own financing and implementation timetables.
The government programme covers five pillars, 14 priority sectors and more than 122 major projects. It brings together mining facilities, the TransGuinean railway and port infrastructure with proposed investment in power, manufacturing, agriculture, logistics, skills development and technology.
Three investment phases through 2040
The first phase, from 2025 to 2030, accounts for $65 billion, or 32.5% of the stated total. According to the official Simandou 2040 programme, $20 billion of this first tranche relates to the mining megaproject and its associated infrastructure. This period focuses on the physical foundations, including ore transport and facilities supporting industrial operations.
The second phase, from 2030 to 2035, accounts for $75 billion, or 37.5% of the programme and its largest share. It focuses on diversification and the expansion of local processing. The remaining $60 billion is allocated to 2035–2040, covering the consolidation of production chains, connectivity and the development of Guinean businesses.
The breakdown provides a concrete investment timetable. These sums are successive planning targets rather than disbursements already made. The Simandou development is one of the first assets around which the government aims to attract partners into other sectors of the economy.
Mining groups and opportunities for Guinean suppliers
Guinea’s Ministry of Mines and Geology had announced more than 1,000 delegates, 75 international speakers and over 3,000 business meetings for the inaugural event. Compagnie des Bauxites de Guinée and Nimba Mining Company are founding partners. The organisers plan opportunities for local small businesses through meetings with major purchasers and supplier registration.
Following the Kassa opening, 12 and 13 November are dedicated to conferences, project presentations and investor meetings at the Radisson Blu in Conakry. Sessions cover international iron ore markets, financing, infrastructure, technology and environmental requirements.
The programme concludes on 14 November with visits to mining and infrastructure facilities, including those connected to Compagnie du TransGuinéen. Kassa, the opening venue, is a former bauxite mining area undergoing redevelopment.