Parliamentary Committee on Mines and Mineral Resources chaired by the Deputy Chairperson, Hon. Bintu Fatmata Bockarie on Friday, 21/06/2024 and Saturday 22/06/2024 engaged mining companies at Baomahun mining site in the Valunia Chiefdom, Bo District and Sierra Diamonds Ltd in Bo City respectively.
In her serial statement the Acting Chairperson, Hon. Bintu Fatmata Bockarie categorically stated that they were not at the mining companies to witch-hunt, but know the successes and challenges of the companies for further consideration. She made reference to the constitutional mandates of the Committee and went on to outline the positivity of the new Mines and Minerals Development Act of 2022 which is in tandem with President Bio’s vision to transform the mining sector to meet international best practice.
Two mining Companies including F.G.Gold Ltd and Sierra Diamonds Ltd were engaged in the serial oversight tour.
During the engagement, the Committee observed that the respective miners have not commenced production, but are complying with mining regulations relative to Corporate Social Responsibilities, Community Development Action Plan, licenses, successor plan, human capital development, payment of surface rent, local content employment policy, gender mainstreaming, Environment, Health and Social Impacts Assessment, international standards amongst others.
At F. G. Gold Ltd mining site the Committee specifically observed that commercial production will start in September 2026; that not many Sierra Leoneans are holding executive positions, especially the head of the Community Affairs : that the company has rehabilitated the feeder road from Matotoka to Baomahun, but abandoned the road linking Bo City and 61% of the workers are host community members. They also observed that the company is transiting from major exploration processes to construction and later commercial production and the the project is located around the middle of Sierra Leone.
For Sierra Diamonds, the Committee observed unique aspects including indigenous people at management level, two licenses (Tonguma and Sierra Diamonds), in training program for graduating community members, 91% of workers are locals, the mining is scheduled for eighteen years amongst others. Sierra Diamonds is mining kimberlite and other diamonds with a prospect estimate of millions of carats.
The Committee observed that the company is envisaging the following challenges; serious funding gap, investors insecurity by Sierra Leone political risk, Ukraine/Russian war and Israel/Gaza war, COVID-19, bad road network insufficient mining concession, the creation of polish diamonds amongst others. Reductio. Of prices for diamond at World markets etc. and
The MPs further observed that the company was7 supporting Community Development Action Plan (CDAP) that focused on livelihoods, trainings activities and payment of surface rent. The company has planned to share their problems with Government through Parliament
However, there was no female among the management and unlike F. G. Gold the later has not rehabilitated feeder roads in its operational communities.
The Management expressed dissatisfaction over the poor road network to Tongo that has not been rehabilitated by SLRA despite the company’s tremendous support with fuel, granite stones etc.
Credit Parliamentary and Public Relations Department – Parliament of Sierra Leone
Copyright –Published in print in Expo Times Newspaper on Wednesday, June 28th , 2024 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)