Diversified-miner Rio Tinto has a received letter from the President of Guinea, “purporting to rescind the Simandou mining concession”, in the country, the firm reported on Friday.

Rio Tinto and its partner in the project, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), were still studying the issues raised in the “correspondence”.

“Rio Tinto remains confident that its arrangements are in all respects in conformity with Guinean laws and that it has complied with its obligations,” the group said in a statement.

The company said in June that it had been notified that the concession was under review, and that the government questioned the validity of a decree issued for the concession.

“Rio Tinto negotiated and executed the Simandou mining concession in full transparency with the Guinean government and is currently in discussion with relevant ministers with a view to resolving any issues,” the miner said on Friday.

Rio Tinto and the IFC plan to develop a 70-million ton a year mine at Simandou, which could be ramped up to 170-million tons a year.

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