By Alpha Abu
Sierra Leone’s Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources, Timothy Musa Kabba has told journalists that the much anticipated Mines and Minerals Development Act is ready to be tabled before parliament.
It will replace the Mines and Minerals Act 2009, and when enacted and will stimulate investment in the sector, says the minister.
Speaking at the weekly press briefing by the Ministry of Information and Communications in Freetown, Kabbah said it was the culmination of a nationwide consultative engagement with all stakeholders in the mining sector such as civil society organisations, development partners, mining companies, traditional leaders and other interested groups.
He described the bill as “balance, simple, competitive and progressive”, adding that it was a fulfilment of the manifesto commitment of the government to ensure citizens derive benefits from the country’s minerals whilst also boosting the confidence of foreign mining companies to invest in Sierra Leone.
He affirmed that there would be no space for “economic desperados” and dismissed talk of a rift between his ministry and the National Minerals Agency (NMA) saying the latter was the powerhouse of the mining sector.
Kabba explained the “exhaustive review” his Ministry and NMA conducted on mining companies operating in the country, and the steps taken to remove those not observing best practice. He said the government was able to provide a cushion to mining companies in the wake of the disruptions COVID-19 posed to their operations, so much that none had to go into administration due to the interventions of NMA, Ministry of Finance, National Revenue Authority and the Mines Ministry.
Companies like Sierra Leone Minerals Company also called VIMETCO continue to live through the challenges brought about by the pandemic, all due the government’s soft policy approach, he asserted.
The Minister observed that despite the prevailing circumstances, diamond and gold mining was “picking up” again and spoke about a Chinese company named Wong Gon that had been issued with a license and would soon commence on the Nimi Hills in Kono district, the first ever large scale gold mining operation in the country.
Another company would also kick start gold mining of a similar scale. Sierra Diamonds, another company with a long history of exploration dating back to 2004, he said, had found encouraging results of kimberlite diamond deposits at Tongo fields in Kenema district to start mining. According to the Minister, they have also granted 18 small scale mining licenses to companies and are reviewing the applications of five others.
He then disclosed advanced plans by another company to start large scale bauxite mining by the first quarter of the year and was hopeful the encouraging investment compliances by these investors would stimulate economic growth including providing employment opportunities. He also stressed the importance of the mining sector’s contribution to national development.
Kabba told journalists that Le 7.5 billion had been distributed to traditional rulers and Local Councils as part of funds apportioned to mining communities for development projects.
NMA Director General, Julius Daniel Mattai briefed the press on the geo-data of the Agency that also contained findings of its Airborne Geo-physical survey that ended last year, which he said would be preserved and protected by the people. He said NMA would inform the public at the appropriate time on related matters.
Copyright © 2021 Politico Online
