China Fund, Bellzone Eye Rio Tinto's Simandou Project -Report

05/06/2012| 12:07pm US/Eastern

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China International Fund and London-listed mining company Bellzone Mining PLC (>> Bellzone Mining PLC) are planning to take over Rio Tinto PLC's (RIO, RIO.LN) share of the giant Simandou iron ore project in Guinea, the Sunday Times reports, citing a presentation from last year.

CIF, a company set up by a syndicate of Hong Kong traders and Angolan state-owned oil firm Sonangol, was joined by Bellzone in making a pitch to the Guinea government to develop the project even though Rio had already reached a deal, the Sunday Times reports, citing the presentation dated Aug. 2011.

"What's wrong with that?" said Bellzone Chief Executive Nik Zuks last week when asked if he was trying to take over Simandou despite Rio's contract, the Sunday Times reports.

Rio Tinto declined to comment when contacted by Dow Jones Newswires.

-By London Bureau, Dow Jones Newswires, +44 207842 9471, alexis.flynn@dowjones.com

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