XCMG & Rio Tinto Join Forces Again to Develop World-Class Simandou Iron Ore Project

On August 12th local time, XCMG Group and Rio Tinto Group, the world's largest iron ore producer, signed a Global Cooperation Framework Agreement in Conakry, the capital of Guinea. Additionally, XCMG signed a work task document on-site with Simfer, a joint venture between Rio Tinto and Chinalco Group, to jointly support the mining development of the Simandou project, which is the world's largest undeveloped iron ore deposit.

Rio Tinto Group is a global leader in the mining industry. In 2014, XCMG and Rio Tinto established a historic partnership, initially brought together by XCMG's hydraulic cylinder products. The 400-ton hydraulic cylinders supplied by XCMG have operated continuously for over 20,000 hours in Australian mines, setting a new record for the fault-free operational time of core components manufactured in China. Following this, XCMG and Rio Tinto jointly developed the GR2605 motor grader and the XC9 series of high-end loaders. In 2021, XCMG's mining motor grader GR5505 was successfully delivered to Rio Tinto, playing a significant role in mining operations.

This time, XCMG won the bid for the Simandou mining project in Guinea and will provide a full set of core mining equipment, including dozens of 230-ton mining trucks and large 350-horsepower and 550-horsepower motor graders. The total contract value is nearly 800 million yuan.

"Over the years, XCMG and Rio Tinto have forged a deep friendship through collaboration. We are very honored to provide high-quality, large-scale mining equipment for Rio Tinto's Simandou project, and we thank Rio Tinto for their trust. This marks a new beginning of high-level friendly cooperation between XCMG and Rio Tinto and further demonstrates XCMG's leading technology and innovation in the field of heavy mining equipment," said Liu Jiansen, Vice President of XCMG Machinery. "We are delighted to have secured this major project for China's large-scale mining equipment industry. XCMG not only provides world-class products but is also committed to supporting local community development, enriching training programs, increasing local employment opportunities, and contributing to the development of the globally watched Simandou project and its surrounding communities."

Chris Aitchison, General Manager of the Simfer Project, said, "We are pleased to collaborate with XCMG Group, an internationally renowned supplier. We believe this partnership will significantly promote local employment and skill development in Guinea, boost investment in vocational and technical education, and maximize the potential of the Simandou project."

Aboubacar Koulibaly, President of Rio Tinto Guinea, stated, "We are delighted to partner with XCMG Group on this extraordinary project. The Simandou project can become a key driver of economic growth in Guinea—sparking a new wave of investment, shaping the country's industrial structure, and becoming a new starting point for our cooperation with XCMG Group."