BUSINESS

Simandou’s First Ore Shipment Stalls as Locomotive Rift Deepens

By Luo Guoping, Bao Zhiming and Denise Jia

Published: Nov. 29, 2025 3:33 a.m. GMT+8

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The first batch of 78 locomotives ordered by SimFer on behalf of CTG arrived at the port of Morebaya in September 2025.

The highly anticipated first shipment from Guinea’s Simandou iron ore project has remains stuck at anchor more than two weeks after loading began, as a dispute over locomotives and rising geopolitical friction stall progress at one of the world’s largest untapped iron ore reserves.

On Nov. 11, Simandou began loading 9,850 tonnes of ore at Marébaia anchorage onto the Winning Youth, a 200,000-ton Capesize bulk carrier operated by project stakeholder Winning International Group. Despite a floating transfer platform capable of moving 5,000 tonnes per hour, the vessel still has not departed.

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The first Simandou iron ore shipment is stalled due to a lack of locomotives and a dispute over using Chinese-built engines, reflecting broader Western-Chinese geopolitical tensions.
Only four Wabtec locomotives are available, limiting rail transport and causing over $600,000 in charter costs as 150,000 tonnes of ore waits offshore; Guinea’s government has blocked Chinese engines.
The Guinean junta is using Simandou for political leverage ahead of the Dec. 28 election, amid strained U.S.-Guinea relations and reduced bilateral trade.

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Who’s Who

Winning International Group: Winning International Group (Winning International) is a Chinese consortium member of Winning Consortium Simandou (WCS), controlling the north block of the Simandou iron ore project. It operates the Capesize bulk carrier "Winning Youth" and has procured locomotives from China's CRRC Corp. Ltd. for the project.

Wabtec Corp.: Wabtec Corp. is a US-based company supplying locomotives for Guinea's Simandou iron ore project. It has delivered four out of an expected six units. The Guinean government reportedly favors Wabtec's locomotives over Chinese alternatives, viewing them as a way to balance China's influence in the project. The US embassy has cited Wabtec's $500 million locomotive contracts as strategic investments in transparency and standards.

Rio Tinto: Rio Tinto leads the south block of the Simandou project with a 53% stake. They jointly ordered Wabtec locomotives for the project, expecting six by November, but only four arrived. The Guinean government's preference for Wabtec's locomotives over Chinese-built ones reflects a geopolitical power struggle within the project.

Winning Consortium Simandou: Winning Consortium Simandou (WCS) controls the north block of the Simandou iron ore project. It comprises Winning International, Shandong Weiqiao Pioneering Group Ltd., and China Baowu Steel Group Corp. WCS faces challenges with rail transport due to insufficient locomotives and the Guinean government's refusal to use Chinese-built engines.

Shandong Weiqiao Pioneering Group Ltd.: Shandong Weiqiao Pioneering Group Ltd. is a Chinese company that is part of the Winning Consortium Simandou (WCS). WCS controls the north block of Guinea's Simandou iron ore project, one of the world's largest untapped iron ore reserves. The company is involved in a geopolitical power struggle over the project's locomotive supply.

China Baowu Steel Group Corp.: China Baowu Steel Group Corp. is a component of the Winning Consortium Simandou (WCS), which controls the north block of the Simandou iron ore project. It partners with Winning International and Shandong Weiqiao Pioneering Group Ltd. within this consortium, playing a role in one of the world's largest untapped iron ore reserves.

CRRC Corp. Ltd.: CRRC Corp. Ltd. is a Chinese company that supplied locomotives for the Simandou project. The Chinese-built engines are noted for being cheaper and easier to maintain. Despite these advantages, the Guinean government has refused to allow their use in the project, reportedly due to a preference for Wabtec locomotives to balance Chinese influence in the supply chain.

Compagnie du Transguinéen: Compagnie du Transguinéen (CTG) is a state-owned company in Guinea responsible for integrating and managing the railway infrastructure for the Simandou project. This includes overseeing the deployment of 143 locomotives and over 7,000 railcars, which will be shared between the project's northern and southern blocks.

Alcoa Corp.: Alcoa Corp. is mentioned in the article as a U.S.-based aluminum giant with a significant presence in Guinea. It has deep roots in the country through its joint venture CBG, which exported 9.2 million tons of bauxite in 2024. This highlights Alcoa's role as a major player in Guinea's bauxite industry.

China Henan International Cooperation Group: China Henan International Cooperation Group is a company involved in bauxite export in Guinea. In 2024, it exported 9.2 million tons of bauxite, making it one of the leading exporters, trailing only the Winning Consortium.

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