By Mohamed Jaward Nyallay
SL Mining, the iron ore miner which had its license cancelled by the Sierra Leone government last year has got a new favorable ruling from the International Chamber of Commerce, the company announced on Tuesday.
The new ruling known as Arbitral Tribunal’s Peremptory Order, orders among other things that the government of Sierra Leone rescind the cancellation of the license of the mining company, a subsidiary of the US-based Gerald Group.
In 2019, the new government of President Julius Maada Bio suspended the company’s license over allegations that the company had contravened the 2009 Mines and Minerals Act, a move that was followed by a cancellation amid acrimony and a public spat between the two.
The company has consistently denied the claims saying the decision of the government was “unlawful” and “invalid” leading to the matter being taken to international arbitration bodies like the ICC.
SL Mining quoted the ICC’s ruling in their press statement on Tuesday saying: “The Government shall refrain from: removing, dealing with, or otherwise interfering, directly or via third parties, with SL Mining’s assets, including equipment and stockpiles of iron ore, in relation with SL Mining’s Marampa iron ore project;.
“directly or indirectly operating itself, or allowing third parties to operate, the Marampa Project; taking any steps towards the issuance of a mining licence and/or entry into a mining lease agreement relating to the Marampa Project or any part thereof to and/or with a third party; and otherwise altering the status quo as of immediately before receipt of the letter purportedly cancelling the License.”
The notice also ordered the government to comply with previous ICC rulings which gave the company the fiat to export its stockpile, something the government had denied them.
The government has not responded to either the previous rulings by the Emergency Arbitrator or the latest one.
Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources, Foday Rado Yokie slammed the ban on the company. On Thursday, Politico contacted him but he declined to comment saying he wasn’t familiar with the details because he had just landed at the airport from an overseas trip.
He referred us to the Office of the Attorney General who could not be reached even as we went to press on Thursday evening.
In their statement, SL Mining warned third parties against infringing on their property at their Marampa Site, saying “SL Mining will not hesitate to take legal action against third parties who infringe its rights in relation to the Marampa Project.”
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