Your account has been succesfully created.

EN FR

Inner circle | Africa
The international flavour of Simon Trott's Rio Tinto team

Simon Trott, Rio Tinto CEO, in Perth, Australia, in 2023. © Richard Wainwright/AAP Image/Reuters

Appointed last August to lead the Anglo-Australian mining giant, the highly pragmatic CEO relies on both Western and African executives to expand the firm's portfolio of mining and industrial projects. There is a particular interest in the copper sector, notably in Angola. [...]

Published on 24/04/2026 at 04:40 GMT Reading time 5 minutes

This article may be accessed by subscribers

In order to ensure high-quality and independent journalism, Africa Intelligence relies solely on subscriptions from its readers, with no advertising, no events and no consulting work.

Several offers are available depending on your particular reading needs

Consult our offers

Do you want a free trial before subscribing?

Create your free account

Discover our work by making use of the following possibilities: daily newsletters, a selection of free articles, keyword alerts.

Do you want a free trial before subscribing?

create a free account

Zambia
Mining giant BHP prepares for return to southern Africa

A delegation from the Anglo-Australian mining major, which has not visited the continent since 2015, will travel to Zambia, South Africa, Namibia and Angola at the end of April. The aim is to forge links with the authorities and junior exploration companies, particularly in the copper sector.

Subscribers only Mining 07.04.2026

Brandon Craig at the BHP head office in Melbourne, Australia, on 18 March 2026.

Spotlight | Guinea
Simandou megaproject kickoff: the actual figures

Announced with great fanfare on 11 November, transportation and exports of iron by the Compagnie du Transguinéen and the two consortia led by Baowu and Rio Tinto respectively have in fact only just begun.

Subscribers only Infrastructure, Mining 09.12.2025

Aerial view of the 650km plus railway line connecting Simandou to the port of Morebaya, in the Nzérékoré region of Guinea, on 4 November 2025.

Spotlight | Guinea
Rio Tinto and Baowu put final touches on Simandou megaproject

With rail construction now complete, work on the mineral port in Morebaya is in full swing. Consortiums WCS and Simfer will ship iron ore from two separate river terminals. While construction is well coordinated, organising the launch of rail and port operations is complex.

Subscribers only Infrastructure, Mining 28.07.2025

Construction of the Simfer quay at the port of Morebaya, Guinea, 10 July 2025.

The New Guard
Libya, Somalia, South Africa

Every Wednesday, Africa Intelligence spotlights a new generation of movers and shakers in business and politics.

LibyaAhmed Albibas, civil rights champion

SomaliaFathi Bashe, youth ambassador for the Horn of Africa

South AfricaMqokeleli Gomba, chief engineer at Richards Bay

Subscribers only Mining, Politics, Diplomacy 12.03.2025

Madagascar
Rio Tinto subsidiary QMM recruits high-profile anti-graft campaigner

The lawyer Sahondra Rabenarivo, a well-known face on the anti-corruption scene, is going into the private sector. She has been appointed as corporate and external relations director at Qit Mineral Madagascar, the local subsidiary of Rio Tinto.

Subscribers only Mining, Business 07.03.2025

South Africa
Rio Tinto ready to relaunch Richards Bay Minerals

After tensions with locals living near its South African mineral sands deposit on the shores of the Indian Ocean, the Anglo-Australian mining giant is this year set to finally go ahead with plans to expand its Zulti South concession.

Subscribers only Mining 26.02.2025

Sand dunes in the KwaZulu-Natal province, near Richards Bay, South Africa.

Guinea
Rio Tinto puts finishing touches to Simandou mining project

The UK-Australian giant has been busy selecting subcontractors and discussing the sale price of iron with its Chinese buyers as it awaits its partner Chinalco's financial commitment to the project, hopefully in March. Rio Tinto has also been in talks with the Guinean junta.

Subscribers only Mining 26.02.2024

Inner circle | DRC, South Africa
Glencore's reforming boss Nagle emerges from Glasenberg's shadow

The South African boss of the Swiss trading and mining giant is counting on two righthand men and a close-knit new team of managers to usher in a new era and turn the page on old corruption cases.

Subscribers only Mining, Commodity Traders 19.01.2024

The South African Glencore CEO Gary Nagle.

Angola
Rio Tinto sets its heart on Angolan diamonds

The Anglo-Australian miner has kicked off its kimberlite exploration operations in north-east Angola. It has taken on board staff from De Beers in order to establish itself in the country long-term.

Free access Mining 24.11.2023

Inner circle | Africa
The international flavour of Simon Trott's Rio Tinto team

This article may be accessed by subscribers

Do you want a free trial before subscribing?

Create your free account

create a free account

Related topics to this article

Zambia
Mining giant BHP prepares for return to southern Africa

Spotlight | Guinea
Simandou megaproject kickoff: the actual figures

Spotlight | Guinea
Rio Tinto and Baowu put final touches on Simandou megaproject

The New Guard
Libya, Somalia, South Africa

LibyaAhmed Albibas, civil rights champion

SomaliaFathi Bashe, youth ambassador for the Horn of Africa

South AfricaMqokeleli Gomba, chief engineer at Richards Bay

Madagascar
Rio Tinto subsidiary QMM recruits high-profile anti-graft campaigner

South Africa
Rio Tinto ready to relaunch Richards Bay Minerals

Guinea
Rio Tinto puts finishing touches to Simandou mining project

Inner circle | DRC, South Africa
Glencore's reforming boss Nagle emerges from Glasenberg's shadow

Angola
Rio Tinto sets its heart on Angolan diamonds

Related topics to this article

About Africa Intelligence

Subscription

Africa Intelligence on social media

Indigo Publications' websites

About Africa Intelligence

Subscription

Indigo Publications' websites

Ibrahim Traoré

Virtus Minerals

Paul Kagame

Savannah Energy

Denis Sassou-Nguesso

Inner circle | Africa The international flavour of Simon Trott's Rio Tinto team

This article may be accessed by subscribers

Do you want a free trial before subscribing?

Create your free account

create a free account

Related topics to this article

Zambia Mining giant BHP prepares for return to southern Africa

Spotlight | Guinea Simandou megaproject kickoff: the actual figures

Spotlight | Guinea Rio Tinto and Baowu put final touches on Simandou megaproject

The New Guard Libya, Somalia, South Africa

LibyaAhmed Albibas, civil rights champion

SomaliaFathi Bashe, youth ambassador for the Horn of Africa

South AfricaMqokeleli Gomba, chief engineer at Richards Bay

Madagascar Rio Tinto subsidiary QMM recruits high-profile anti-graft campaigner

South Africa Rio Tinto ready to relaunch Richards Bay Minerals

Guinea Rio Tinto puts finishing touches to Simandou mining project

Inner circle | DRC, South Africa Glencore's reforming boss Nagle emerges from Glasenberg's shadow

Angola Rio Tinto sets its heart on Angolan diamonds

Related topics to this article

About Africa Intelligence

Subscription

Africa Intelligence on social media

Indigo Publications' websites

Inner circle | Africa
The international flavour of Simon Trott's Rio Tinto team

Zambia
Mining giant BHP prepares for return to southern Africa

Spotlight | Guinea
Simandou megaproject kickoff: the actual figures

Spotlight | Guinea
Rio Tinto and Baowu put final touches on Simandou megaproject

The New Guard
Libya, Somalia, South Africa

Madagascar
Rio Tinto subsidiary QMM recruits high-profile anti-graft campaigner

South Africa
Rio Tinto ready to relaunch Richards Bay Minerals

Guinea
Rio Tinto puts finishing touches to Simandou mining project

Inner circle | DRC, South Africa
Glencore's reforming boss Nagle emerges from Glasenberg's shadow

Angola
Rio Tinto sets its heart on Angolan diamonds