December 10, 2021
Following termination of Sierramin Bauxite SL Limited mining licenses, issued by the Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources, the Parliamentary Committee on Mines and Mineral Resources, chaired by the Leader of C4C, Hon. Saa Emerson Lamina, after due consideration has on Wednesday 8th December 2021 annulled the said termination to allow the company to continue its operations in the country.
In respect of the Parliamentary Summons at the Members Lounge, Hon. Members of the Committee on Mines and Mineral Resources raised several concerns including court actions, joblessness, erosion of donor confidence on investment, and negative impacts on the economy among others whenever mining licenses were terminated.
Hon. Amadu Kanu spoke on the importance and benefits of mining to the state. He encouraged National Minerals Agency (NMA) to work in the best interest of the state including growth and development and adherence to international benchmarks.
Following concerns and observations by Members of the Committee, Hon. P.C Bai Kurr Kanagbaro Sanka Ill condemned the termination of such mining licenses, and cited the ramifications the Government and people of Sierra Leone went through relating to the cancellation of the mining licenses belonging to SL Mining in Port Loko District.
The Committee Members also asked NMA to give them an update on the following:
1. Comprehensive list mining companies that are doing exploration in the country
2. Environmental, Social, and Health Impacts Assessment (ESHIA) of active mining companies
3. Proposed mining strategy for 2022 and
4 Comparative Assessment of the 2009 Mines and Minerals Act and the 2021 proposed Bill for the purposes of its review.
The following recommendations were made by the Committee:
1. That the Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources should put on hold any act of termination regarding Sierramin Bauxite SL Limited
2. Let the Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources exhaust all mechanisms for redress and
3. The Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources to engage the miner (Sierramin Bauxite) base on the company’s commitments and responsibilities to the state
The Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Mines and Mineral Resources, Hon. Saa Emerson Lamina said the decision to revoke the termination of the said mining licenses was informed by what transpired between SL Mining and the State, following expert’s opinion and advice.
The Committee also discussed several issues including best practices and the economic benefits of mining activities that are catalytic to development in the country.