By: Creamer media

The incident took place at a WCS work site in Kerouane province, the Chinese-controlled company said.

Simandou, one of the world's largest untapped iron-ore deposits, is being developed by WCS and Rio Tinto under close government oversight, with companies filing monthly progress reports, a source said. 

It is aiming to meet a November deadline for first exports from the long-delayed mine. Missed production timelines will attract financial penalties, the source familiar with the matter added, as authorities push to commission the project.

The military-led government did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Reuters in March reported that 13 local workers had been killed since November 2023 in the construction of the port and 670-km railway leading to the mines in remote rural Guinea. Rio Tinto reported a further worker death in August.

Simandou is largely a Chinese venture, with 75% of the production controlled by Chinese companies including Baosteel, and 25% held by Rio Tinto, the world's largest iron-ore miner.

WCS said it is supporting the victims' families and will only resume operations once safety conditions are fully guaranteed.