China's Involvement in Guinea's Huge Iron Ore Project Has Global Implications

Think China published on 2 December 2025 an analysis titled "Simandou: The African Mine that Could Shake Australia and Reshape China's Rise" by Genevieve Donnellon-May. 

Guinea's Simandou complex is the world's largest untapped high-grade iron ore deposit and Africa's largest greenfield integrated mine and infrastructure project.  Chinese firms control 75 percent of the project.  The first iron ore shipment departed for China in November.  China consumes about 75 percent of global iron ore imports.  Beijing's growing control over African critical minerals is drawing scrutiny from the United States.