By Saio Marrah
Parliament of Sierra Leone has enacted into law the Mines and Mineral Development Act of 2022 that seeks to improve provisions for the socio- economic benefit of the country.
The new law is also geared towards the facilitation of transparent and accountable management of the mineral sector in accordance with international best practice.
The bill which was passed into law on Tuesday 9th August, 2022, also caters for improved employment and practices in the mineral sector.
After the approval of the new law, the Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources, Musa Timothy Kabba described it as a historic day for the mining sector because it is a guiding document that regulates activities of investment in the sector, protects the environment and help promote the interest of the people in the country.
He said the law is developmental because government now recognises the significant role minerals and mines contribute to the national development of the country and its people.
Commenting on the difference it will create, he said 13 years down the line since enactment of the old law in 2009, lots has changed in the mining sector, mentioning changes in the energy landscape, disruption by COVID-19, logistics and supply chain, and the emerging of new minerals.
He said it also addresses the new phenomenon in the governance system which he described as Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG), that tries to promote women issues, increase revenue and give more resources to the people that are directly affected by mining activities as well as protecting the environment.
According to him, it also geared towards increasing citizen’s participation in the mining sector as well as making mining central to the development of the country.
In the area of artisanal mining, the minister said the law also provides for the use of machinery that will increase more production as well as preventing illicit and illegal mining where they are not allowed to use those machines.
He said the use of dredges in areas of illicit mining has been ‘outlawed’. He noted that the new law provides for penalty on defaulters of environmental protective measures.. He said this is because while extracting the minerals it is the duty as government to protect the environment.
The Chairman of Mines and Mineral Resources Committee in Parliament, Emerson Saa Lamina, representing constituency 030, Kono district, described the new law as the most progressive since the beginning of mining in the country in 1930.
Answering to questions surrounding the implementation of the new laws, he noted that there are several institutions like the National Mineral Agency, charged with the responsibility of regulating the activities of mining companies while the ministry has the overall and supervisory role.
He also pointed out that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) works collaboratively with mining and environment issues.
He added that the parliamentarians on the other hand have the constitutional mandate for the oversight supervision of all the Ministry Department and Agencies (MDAs), including the Mines and Mineral Resources Ministry.
He noted that when the supervisory role are being carried effectively, the country will definitely benefit a lot as it caters for 10% of the profits of mining company to the government, one percent of its profits to chiefdom hosting the mining community under the Community Development Agreement (CDA) He also highlighted the Mining District Development Fund that will get 20% of royalties . He said the law also protects the rights of women and children in mining communities.
There is a provision that Sierra Leoneans are entitled to artisanal mining activities.
Copyright © 2022 Politico Online (10/08/22)
