Empowering Safety at Scale - How HSEC Training & Services Is Setting New Standards for the Simandou Project
 

In large-scale industrial ventures, success hinges not only on engineering excellence and operational scale—but on the people who make it happen safely. Nowhere is this more evident than at the Simandou Iron Ore Project in Guinea, where HSEC Training & Services is playing a vital role in shaping a culture of safety, sustainability, and human development.
 

At the heart of HSEC’s mission lies a commitment to Health, Safety, Environment, and Community (HSEC) performance. With a specialization in high-risk sectors like mining and infrastructure, the organization provides comprehensive training programs and risk mitigation strategies designed to protect workers, surrounding communities, and the environment. For a project the size and complexity of Simandou—spanning over 600 km of railway, a deep-water port, and one of the world’s richest untapped iron ore deposits—this work is not ancillary; it’s foundational.

 

Building a Safer Future, One Worker at a Time

HSEC’s involvement in Simandou includes policy development, compliance audits, emergency response planning, and in-depth, multilingual training for thousands of workers across the project lifecycle. From hazard identification to waste management and PPE usage, local teams are equipped with the knowledge and tools to prevent incidents and foster a culture of accountability.
 

With over 60,000 jobs anticipated at the peak of construction, ensuring that every team member—regardless of literacy level or language—is trained in safety protocols is a monumental challenge. HSEC meets this with tailored programs, including infection prevention and control (IPC) modules, Training-of-Trainers (ToT) systems, and specialized occupational health courses that reflect local realities.
 

Whether it’s a cleaning technician from Faranah or a heavy machinery operator in Beyla, HSEC’s approach ensures inclusive, scalable, and practical education that’s directly applicable to the jobsite.
 

Strategic Integration with National Capacity Building

HSEC’s impact extends beyond compliance. Its close collaboration with the Railway Institute—a joint initiative between the Winning Consortium Simandou, the University of Conakry, and Hunan Technical College—has created a unique talent pipeline for Guinea. A $7 million investment in training facilities now supports both technical and HSEC-specific education, fostering a new generation of safety-conscious professionals across mining, logistics, and infrastructure.
 

This integration of education, safety, and economic opportunity supports Guinea’s broader development agenda while ensuring Simandou’s operational longevity.
 

Sustainability and Social License

The Simandou Project operates under strict national and international HSEC frameworks—many of which require proactive community engagement, rigorous reporting, and transparency. HSEC Training & Services plays a crucial intermediary role between project operators and surrounding communities, ensuring that environmental safeguards are communicated, understood, and respected.

Their training doesn’t end at the project gates. Programs also include community sensitization, empowering residents with knowledge of emergency protocols and environmental protection practices, ensuring that development proceeds hand-in-hand with safety and trust.

 

A Partner in Progress

As Guinea stands on the threshold of becoming a global iron ore powerhouse, HSEC Training & Services ensures that growth is not achieved at the expense of safety or sustainability. Their role at Simandou is not just about ticking boxes; it’s about embedding world-class standards into the fabric of Guinean industry.

In a country poised for industrial transformation, HSEC Training & Services is proving that people-first operations—built on knowledge, trust, and preparedness—aren’t just best practice; they’re the only path forward.

Partnering for Progress: How CIS Group Powers Life at Simandou

In some of the world’s most remote and demanding industrial environments, CIS Group has built a reputation for enabling progress where others see only obstacles. With a global footprint and more than 30 years of experience in integrated life support services, CIS specializes in catering, accommodation, facility management, and technical maintenance for major energy, mining, and construction projects. Today, in the heart of Guinea, the company is playing a central role in supporting one of Africa’s most ambitious mining developments — the Simandou Iron Ore Project.

Operating through its local joint venture Welhy-CIS, the company has been awarded an $82 million contract by SIMFER (the Rio Tinto-led joint venture responsible for Blocks 3 and 4 of the project). Under this agreement, CIS is delivering a comprehensive suite of services designed to support a workforce of up to 8,000 people at one of the most logistically challenging sites in West Africa.

A Foundation for Operations

Supporting daily life at the Simandou site goes far beyond logistics — it requires precision, reliability, and adaptability in extreme conditions. CIS’s role spans catering, accommodation, access control, facility operations, and technical maintenance, ensuring all core support systems are running seamlessly behind the scenes.

Their involvement is critical to SIMFER’s progress, enabling mining teams to focus fully on operations while CIS ensures every element of life on site — from safe housing to hot meals and clean facilities — is managed to international standards.

Local Expertise, Global Delivery

CIS’s service excellence is driven by its Welhy-CIS partnership, blending global operational systems with local insight and capability. This joint venture model has allowed CIS to empower Guinean professionals across roles — from site maintenance to kitchen services — while embedding training and capacity building at every level.

Notably, CIS has deployed advanced tools like Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS) to upskill local teams and ensure long-term operational sustainability. The result is a workforce that is not only locally sourced, but globally capable.

Investing Beyond the Site

CIS’s community impact goes well beyond the confines of the project. In 2024 alone, the company sourced 95% of its products locally, favoring regional farms, cooperatives, and small businesses. This short supply chain approach strengthens the rural economy and ensures fresher, more sustainable food delivery for workers onsite.

CIS also supports philanthropic initiatives, including food donations to orphanages, investment in education and health projects, and social programs aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. These activities reflect a commitment to not just operating in Guinea, but contributing to its long-term development.

A Long-Term Commitment to Guinea

For CEO Yannick Morillon, the Simandou partnership reflects CIS’s broader purpose: “At CIS, we enable our clients to focus on their core mission by building reliable, resilient support systems. Our partnership with Welhy demonstrates how empowering local talent and investing in communities leads to operational success.”

As the Simandou Iron Ore Project ramps up toward full production, CIS’s contributions are essential — not just to logistics and infrastructure, but to the social and economic transformation of the region. Through high-quality service, local empowerment, and a deeply embedded sense of partnership, CIS Group is helping shape Guinea’s future — one project, one community, and one team at a time.


CIS Group, International leader in Integrated Life Support Services

WELHY-CIS Guinée SAS

Villa du Quartier de la Minière, Commune de Dixinn,

Conakry, BP : 395

Hitachi Zambia and FQM Kansanshi: Powering Sustainable Mining Through Innovation and Community Engagement

As dawn’s first glow bathes the copper pits of Kansanshi and marathon runners surge past cheering villagers, a new chapter of partnership—and possibility—unfolds in Zambia.

Hitachi Construction Machinery Zambia and First Quantum Minerals (FQM) Kansanshi Mine have embarked on a groundbreaking journey—one that began when engineers watched the first prototype battery dump truck roll silently across Kansanshi’s copper‑rich earth, its quiet electric hum echoing beneath the cheers of marathon spectators lining the pit rim— redefining mining practices through a strategic zero-emission partnership and meaningful community engagements, exemplified by their successful collaboration on the annual Kansanshi Marathon.


 

A Milestone in Sustainable Mining Solutions

With Kansanshi’s battery‑electric haul fleet projected to slash more than 30,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions every year, this initiative moves beyond aspiration to measurable climate action.

In March 2023, Hitachi and FQM announced the signing of a Letter of Intent (LOI), marking a significant leap toward sustainable mining at Kansanshi, one of Zambia’s most prominent copper-gold mines. Central to this collaboration is the deployment of Hitachi’s fully electric rigid frame dump trucks, fitted with advanced battery technology from ABB. Scheduled for delivery by the end of FY2023, these battery dump trucks represent a transformative step—cutting per‑haul emissions by up to 70 % compared with their diesel predecessors—in reducing operational greenhouse gas emissions, directly supporting FQM’s ambitious sustainability goals.

Leveraging existing infrastructure, including trolley assist systems, Kansanshi mine is uniquely suited for this pioneering technology. John Gregory, Director of Mining for First Quantum, highlighted the strategic advantage: “We have spent over a decade refining trolley assist technology with Hitachi. This battery-powered advancement is a natural evolution, pushing us closer to our goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030.” He added, “Hitachi’s unwavering commitment to decarbonisation and its clear roadmap for low‑carbon innovation make it the ideal partner for our sustainability journey.”

Sonosuke Ishii, Senior Vice President of Hitachi Construction Machinery, emphasized, “This initiative with FQM represents not just a technological breakthrough, but a broader commitment to a sustainable and safe future for mining globally.”

Community and Health: The Kansanshi Marathon

This partnership transcends technological advancements, deeply embedding itself in community development. The annual Kansanshi Marathon, set to celebrate its third edition in May 2025, underscores both organizations’ dedication to community health, inclusivity, and environmental consciousness. FQM's Assistant General Manager, Axel Kottgen, stated, “Our vision goes beyond mining operations; we focus on the health, well‑being, and unity of the people around us.” To visibly champion this vision, Hitachi supported the race with bright orange hydration stations, on‑course power‑generators, and technical shirts emblazoned with the Hitachi logo—turning every refresh point and finish‑line photo into an unmistakable symbol of the partnership.

The marathon has rapidly become the largest sports event in North-Western Zambia, with an anticipated participation of over 2,300 runners in 2025, reflecting a 40% growth from the previous year. The event also champions inclusivity, introducing a wheelchair and differently-abled category for the first time. Local participant Emmanuel Juju commended this effort, noting, “This initiative significantly promotes diversity and equality, aligning perfectly with the national Clean, Green, and Healthy Campaign.”

Amplifying Impact Through Strategic Collaboration

Hitachi Zambia’s collaboration with FQM extends further into social and economic investments, including establishing an in-country engine repair facility aimed at boosting local employment and skills development. These initiatives demonstrate a holistic commitment to Zambia’s social, environmental, and economic landscapes.

Through strategic storytelling, multimedia campaigns, and high-impact community programs, Hitachi Zambia and FQM Kansanshi continue to exemplify a powerful partnership model—proving that sustainable mining and community prosperity can, indeed, thrive side by side
 

Hitachi Construction Machinery Zambia Co. Ltd.

Adress: Plot2350/M, Kenneth Kaunda International Airport Road, P.O. Box 30182 Lusaka Zambia
Contact:
Tel. +260 211-285360, 285361, 285362

Ever since the Liebherr Group joined the mining industry more than 50 years ago, its products have set standards in open-pit mining operations around the world. All of Liebherr’s mining trucks, dozers and excavators provide customers with the best possible performance for the lowest cost per tonne thanks to the advanced technologies and reliable components built into every machine. The durability of these machines, even in the toughest of mining conditions, is thanks to Liebherr’s decades of experience in designing, manufacturing and supporting mining equipment. Over the years, the company has strived to continuously improve its product offerings by incorporating feedback from customers and its own experienced technicians into the designs of each machine.
 

Liebherr also provides a comprehensive range of low and zero emission solutions across its product portfolio to support mining customers wherever they may be in their decarbonisation journeys. Since 2022, the company has offered low emission options for all of its loading and hauling products and is committed to offering completely fossil-fuel-free mining equipment for hauling, digging and dozing by 2030.

Alongside its zero emission solutions, Liebherr also offers technology products that take the performance of Liebherr machines to the next level. IoMine, Liebherr’s suite of technology products, is designed to help customers enhance their decision-making, safety and sustainability – all while reducing costs. The three product families within IoMine – Automate, Operate and Maintain – provide solutions that help customers to optimise different areas of their mining operations

Liebherr customers in Zambia are supported by the Group’s sales and service company in the country, Liebherr Zambia. Liebherr Zambia provides machinery, technical support and spare parts to customers in the mining and earthmoving segment. And, in recent years, Liebherr Zambia has played a significant role in developing product innovations such as Liebherr’s Trolley Assist System for haul trucks.
 

Liebherr Zambia Ltd.

Zambia

175 Kudu Road
Kabulonga
Lusaka
Zambia