Rio Tinto has confirmed the death of a contracting company employee at the SimFer mine site in Nzérékoré, Guinea on 14 February, suspending work and launching a thorough investigation
Rio Tinto has confirmed that an employee of a contracting firm died after an incident at its SimFer mine near Nzérékoré, Guinea, on Saturday 14 February. The company has suspended operations at the site and moved quickly to support colleagues while authorities investigate what happened.
Simon Trott, Rio Tinto’s chief executive, expressed his condolences and said he will travel to Guinea to join the local team, liaise with partners and cooperate with investigators. The firm has not yet disclosed the cause of the incident.
Immediate steps taken
– Work at the SimFer site has been paused so teams can focus on wellbeing and safety.
– Psychological and practical support has been offered to employees and contractors affected by the incident. – Company representatives are coordinating with local authorities on the ground, and investigators have been granted access where appropriate.
Investigation and cooperation
Rio Tinto has launched a comprehensive review to establish what happened, why it happened and which safeguards failed.
The probe will involve the company, the contracting firm and local regulators, and may draw on outside experts to examine operational, technical and human factors. Findings will be used to strengthen controls and reduce risk across operations.
Leadership and communications
Mr Trott’s visit is intended to reassure staff, bolster the local response and oversee coordination with authorities and partners. Official communications will be handled through the company’s media channels; media enquiries should be sent to [email protected]. Regional media teams are also available in the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and the US & Latin America.
Project context
SimFer is part of the wider Simandou development — a long‑term mining and infrastructure initiative in Guinea that Rio Tinto describes as strategically important. The company says it remains committed to learning from this event and embedding stronger safeguards to prevent loss of life.
What comes next
The investigation is ongoing. Rio Tinto says it will share appropriate updates as new information becomes available and apply any lessons learned to improve safety across its operations. Our reporters will continue to monitor official statements and relay verified developments.
