In October 2025, Reuters reported that three migrant workers died in a site incident at Simandou iron ore project in Guinea. According to the reporting, the project is being co-developed by Winning Consortium Simandou (WCS) and Rio Tinto.

The deaths occurred at a Winning Consortium Simandou worksite on the project. The company said it has suspended operations and launched a safety review.

The deaths follow previous fatalities on the project, including the deaths of 13 workers since November 2023 in the construction of the port and railway leading to the mines, and another worker death reported by Rio Tinto in August 2025, according to Reuters.

In January 2026, the Business & Human Rights Centre invited Rio Tinto to respond to the reporting. Rio Tinto's response can be read in full below - it highlighted that Rio Tinto is "developing the separate and independent mine" to the site where the three workers died, and that it has offered its support to WCS.