It’s Been a Downright Terrible Week For Two of China’s Most Important Mining Ventures in Africa

Aerial view of the world's largest iron ore deposits at the Simandou mine in Guinea. Image via Rio Tinto.

Two of China’s largest and most important mining ventures in Africa, one in Guinea and the other in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, face the real possibility of being shut down after years of contentious relations with their local partners.

In West Africa, a Sino-Australian joint venture to develop the massive Simandou iron ore mine in Guinea was shuttered earlier this week after Mines Minister Moussa Magassouba sent a letter to the lead companies on the project saying that they had both shown a “lack of willingness” to make the necessary investments in the venture.

  • Get a daily email packed with the latest news and analysis from Africa, Asia, and across the Global South.
  • Read exclusive insights on the key trends shaping China’s relations across the Global South.
  • Full access to the News Feed that provides daily updates on Chinese engagement in the Global South.

China, Africa and the Global South... find out what’s happening.

Subscribe today for unlimited access.

OR

Already a subscriber? Log in Click Here to Learn More
by Eric Olander

Most Read

1
Developing Countries’ Debt Servicing Costs to China Are Significant, but Nowhere Near as Much as Other Creditors
2 Chinese Military Fans Discuss Why Indonesia Bought Rafale Instead of J-10C
3
Chinese Cargo Planes Secretly Ferrying Supplies to Iran, Claim Online Sleuths
4 From J-10C to Kaan? Indonesia’s Fighter Jet Deal With Turkey Shocks Chinese Military Fans
5
Indonesia Goes Nuclear, Taps China and Russia for Modular Reactors
6
Thailand in Last-Minute U.S. Talks as 36% Tariff Looms

What is The China-Global South Project?

Independent

The China-Global South Project is passionately independent, non-partisan and does not advocate for any country, company or culture.

News

A carefully curated selection of the day’s most important China-Global South stories. Updated 24 hours a day by human editors. No bots, no algorithms.

Analysis

Diverse, often unconventional insights from scholars, analysts, journalists and a variety of stakeholders in the China-Global South discourse.

Networking

A unique professional network of China-Africa scholars, analysts, journalists and other practioners from around the world.

More about CGSP