Ivanhoe Atlantic’s Guinea iron ore project moves closer to construction

Ivanhoe Atlantic has actually finished the required ecological and social effect researches (ESIA) for its Kon Kweni iron ore job in Guinea and sent license applications to start building very early following year.

The ESIA entries, claims the US-based mining business, take the Kon Kweni job closer to building, which it intends to start in the very first quarter of 2026. Together with Guinea, an application was likewise sent to appropriate authorities in surrounding Liberia, where a rail facilities to export the iron ore would certainly be developed.

Ivanhoe Atlantic’s head of state and chief executive officer Bronwyn Barnes hailed the ESIA conclusion and entry as “a considerable landmark” for the business and its iron ore job. “The advancement of Kon Kweni is a considerable factor to both Guinean and Liberian economic climates and will certainly offer a brand-new top-quality iron ore export stream that is straightened with United States vital mineral supply chains,” he specified in a news release.

The Guinea ESIA refers to Stage 1 mining tasks at Kon Kweni, while the Liberian ESIA associates with the facilities element of the Stage 1 advancement.

In 2024, Ivanhoe Atlantic revealed strategies to construct a multi-user facilities passage linking both African countries. Referred to as the Freedom Hallway, the facilities job will certainly consist of a new rail system linking Kon Kweni to a freshly built deep-water port at Didia, Liberia. Previously this year, the celebrations got to a $1.8 billion financial investment arrangement for the rail job.

First-rate iron down payment

Kon Kweni– likewise referred to as Nimba– stands for a shovel-ready first-rate down payment including a complete source of 751.9 million tonnes of straight ship ore, of which 209 million tonnes is top-quality iron ore at 67.8%.

The job is 85% had by Société des Mines de Fer de Guinée, Ivanhoe Atlantic’s subsidiary in Guinea. The Guinean federal government and Mifergui (a region in southeastern Guinea) have the continuing to be passion in the job, with 10% and 5% specifically.

According to Ivanhoe, the Stage 1 advancement of Kon Kweni will certainly target a first manufacturing of 2 million tonnes per year, after that increase to 5 million tonnes. The Stage 2 advancement– which it intends to start in 2029 and will certainly go through a different ESIA procedure– has a target manufacturing of 30 million tonnes per year with facilities upgrades.

As a first-in-a-generation cross-border job in the Mano River Union (MRU)– that includes Liberia, Guinea, Sierra Leone and the Cream Color Shore– Kon Kweni is positioned to produce lasting financial development for the area, the business stated.