Winning Consortium Simandou, one of the companies developing the world’s biggest untapped iron ore deposit in Guinea, has said that it is working closely with authorities and communities to address environmental concerns linked with the project.
The commitment follows studies by Advocates for Community Alternatives, a non-governmental organization, which revealed that construction of the Simandou project was linked with water and soil pollution.
“Winning Consortium Simandou is committed to developing the project responsibly, in accordance with Guinean regulations and international standards,” it said Friday in response to questions. “We remain committed to ensuring that the project generates sustainable and inclusive benefits for the Guinean people.”
Earlier this week London-based Rio Tinto Plc, which together with Aluminum Corp. of China control the third and fourth blocks of the project said “we are fully committed to minimizing the impacts of our operations through preventive, mitigation, and compensation measures, in full compliance with national legislation and international standards.”
Coastal settlements around the sea port being constructed for ore shipment are experiencing pollution of fishing areas and cracks in buildings, the NGO said on July 29. Samples of water and soil collected around the iron ore deposits in the southeast tested positive for high levels of acidity and bacterial contamination, it said.
Winning Consortium Simandou, backed by Chinese companies including China Baowu Steel Group, own the first two blocks at Simandou.
