XCMG’s XDE260 mining trucks have now officially entered operation with SimFer at the Simandou iron ore project in Guinea. Engineered for West African conditions, XCMG says these flagship electric-drive trucks target higher productivity and lower environmental impact, backed by its dedicated on-site service team and a major equipment supply contract, marking a significant milestone.
The SimFer primary mining fleet consists of XCMG XDE130 and XDE260 mining haul trucks, Komatsu PC5500 hydraulic excavators and Komatsu WA1200 wheel loaders. Operators have already been trained to use these machines with Immersive Technologies advanced simulators.
The double axle XDE260 rigid mining truck has a rated payload of 230 t, and is offered with the Cummins QSK60 or MTU16V4000 engine. It is a diesel-electric drive truck with Wabtec AC electric drive system, with XCMG’s own 260AC drive system as an option. The truck is capable of a 64.5 km/h top speed. The XDE260 electric retarder system provides a maximum braking power of 2,910 kW, with continuous braking power at 2,761 kW, meeting the braking requirements of fully loaded continuous downhill travel, thus enhancing operation safety and production efficiency.
SimFer is the mine owner and operator and is a joint venture between the Government of the Republic of Guinea, Rio Tinto and the CIOH, a Chinalco-led joint venture of leading Chinese SOEs, including Baowu. SimFer’s activities cover blocks 3 and 4 of the Simandou Range. Winning Consortium Simandou’s mining project covering exploration and operation of blocks 1 and 2 of the Simandou Range. WCS MineCo is a joint-venture between Winning Consortium Holdings and Baowu.
Based on the co-development agreement, the WCS entities are responsible for constructing the 600km main rail line up to a tie-in point in the Kérouané region, a 16 km rail spur connecting its blocks 1 and 2 to the main line and a barge wharf in Morebaya. In parallel, SimFer Infraco Guinée S.A. is building a 78 km rail spur to connect blocks 3 and 4 to the main rail line and a transhipment vessel (TSV) port expansion in Morebaya.
In August, SimFer provided its last operational update covering during the first half of 2026. Construction activities at both the mine and port continued to advance at pace and remain on schedule. Nearly three-quarters of the overall project had been completed, while full commissioning of the rail network was successfully achieved during the first quarter of 2026. At the SimFer mine, earthworks and construction of permanent facilities continued, with overall progress reaching 77%. Port infrastructure was 85% complete, with commissioning remaining on track for the first quarter of 2027.
The second quarter of 2026 also marked a continued ramp-up of operations, supported by increased rail logistics capacity provided by la Compagnie du TransGuinéen (CTG). As part of this progressive operational ramp-up, 1.6 Mt of iron ore were shipped to China during the second quarter, bringing total shipments to 2.2 Mt in the first half of 2026.
SimFer Managing Director Chris Aitchison said in August: “The progress achieved over recent months reflects the dedication of our teams and the strength of our partnership with the Government of Guinea and all our project partners. We continue to advance the project safely and responsibly while preparing for the next phase of operations. Our priority remains to create lasting value for Guinea, its communities and all stakeholders connected to the project.”
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