Originally published in Kouma Media
An unpublished environmental impact study, obtained by Climate Rights International, reveals significant threats to Mount Nimba’s unique biodiversity , water resources, and the livelihoods of local communities. Despite these warnings, Guinean authorities appear ready to support the Kon Kweni mining project, led by Ivanhoe Atlantic.
Mount Nimba, Guinea’s only UNESCO World Heritage site, is at the heart of a major controversy. Climate Rights International (CRI) claims to have obtained a still-confidential environmental impact study that highlights “major” risks to biodiversity, the local climate, and local communities linked to the Kon Kweni iron ore mining project, led by the US company Ivanhoe Atlantic.
According to this study carried out by an environmental consulting firm, the cumulative effects of the project could lead to irreversible degradation of this iconic mountain range, already classified as “in danger” by UNESCO since 1992.
An exceptional site under threat
Rising to nearly 1,800 meters, Mount Nimba is home to one of the highest concentrations of biodiversity in West Africa. Its humid microclimate, essential to the survival of the surrounding forests, depends on a fragile ecological balance.
The study consulted by CRI is unambiguous: without a “detailed and operational” Biodiversity Action Plan, the impacts of the project would be “unacceptable” for the Outstanding Universal Values of the site.
Fabien Offner, a researcher at CRI, warns of a scenario already observed elsewhere:
“The nearby Simandou mega-mine has led to massive violations of community rights and increased pressure on biodiversity. Mount Nimba risks following the same trajectory if nothing is done.”
Unprecedented environmental impacts
The study estimates the total area of land lost at 1,790 hectares, including 485 hectares of forests, including 70 hectares of primary mountain forests, among the rarest in the country.
Projected emissions reach 1 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent over the start-up phase and the first ten years of operation — the equivalent of the annual absorption capacity of a tropical rainforest covering the land and sea area of New York City.
These emissions, combined with existing climate pressures, directly threaten the micro-endemic species of the massif, which are already sensitive to variations in temperature and humidity.
Villages on the front line
The villages of Gbakoré, Zouguepo, Bossou Centre, Seringbara, and Thuo are among the most exposed. Mining infrastructure is expected to reduce, or even eliminate, some arable and pastoral land, exacerbating land pressure that is already a source of deadly conflicts between farmers and herders.
The influx of workers attracted by mining opportunities could exacerbate these tensions.
The study also raises concerns about risks to water resources: falling groundwater levels, increased runoff, soil erosion, and changes in seasonal river flow patterns. Chimpanzee habitats, in particular, would be fragmented by the construction of a 40-meter-wide corridor road.
A project that is part of a regional rush towards iron
The Kon Kweni project is just one of four mining projects currently underway in the Nimba region. These include: Nimba Development Company (NDC): a 2,280-hectare concession within the buffer zone of the UNESCO site; Equatorial Resources Limited (ERL): an exploration permit covering 30,500 hectares, part of which lies directly within the UNESCO World Heritage site; and Sama Resources: exploration of graphite deposits in the immediate vicinity of the protected area.
The study highlights that the cumulative impacts of these projects could be “major” for social cohesion, vulnerable groups and the management of relocations.
Government support despite the contradictions
The Guinean government holds a 10% stake in the Kon Kweni project through SMFG, a subsidiary of Ivanhoe Atlantic. Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah received a delegation from the company on April 7, a sign of explicit political support.
However, Guinea has committed in its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 20 to 30% by 2035, notably by “halting deforestation” and expanding protected areas.
Between 2001 and 2024, the country lost 2.3 million hectares of tree cover, or 28% of its initial forest area.
“Authorizing a project that threatens Guinea’s only World Heritage site is hardly compatible with the stated climate ambitions,” says Fabien Offner.
An already secured export corridor
The extracted ore will be transported to Liberia via the Yekepa-Buchanan railway, previously used by ArcelorMittal. The Liberian Parliament ratified the concession agreement in December 2025, allowing Ivanhoe Atlantic to use this strategic infrastructure.
Phase 2 of the project plans to ramp up to 25–30 million tonnes per year, as well as the construction of a processing centre in Lola.
A national choice with irreversible consequences
Mount Nimba, a symbol of Guinea’s ecological wealth, is now at the center of a national dilemma: accelerated mining development or preservation of a unique natural heritage.
The leaked study, by revealing the extent of the risks, now places the Guinean authorities face to face with their responsibilities.
The final green light for the Kon Kweni project could seal the future of a site whose value far exceeds the country’s borders.
Translated via Google Translate.