Matakong, Forécariah Prefecture | |
|---|---|
  Matakong, Forécariah Prefecture Location in Guinea | |
| Coordinates: 09°16′20″N 13°25′20″W / 9.27222°N 13.42222°W | |
| Country | Guinea |
| Prefecture | Forécariah Prefecture |
| Elevation | 3 ft (1 m) |
Matakong is an island just off the coast of Guinea between the capital Conakry and the Sierra Leone border.
Matakong is also called Matakan.
Matakong is the proposed port terminus of the heavy duty standard gauge Trans-Guinean Railway, aimed at transporting large iron and bauxite deposits to the coast, notably from the mines at Simandou, 650km east . The proposed Bellzone iron ore mine at Kalia may also share this railway line.[1]
A new deep water port is needed because, firstly, the port at Conakry is built out and there is no room, and secondly, because a new port at Matakong has better access though flatter ground to the hinterland.
A 20 km pier may be needed to reach deep water suitable for panamax size ships. An artificial island contains the ship loader and ore dumps, and these is connected by a conveyor belt from the railway unloaded on the mainland. It is not known if the railway terminates in a Balloon loop.