By Amin Kef (Ranger)
The partnership arrangement between the Government of Sierra Leone and a private entity, ARISE IIP, culminated, on the 26th April, 2023, into a ground breaking event that took place at Koya Chiefdom, Port Loko District geared towards the establishment of a Special Koya Industrial Zone.
It must ,however ,be noted that the viable functionality of the Special Industrial Zone is largely dependent or contingent on a well developed rail system, a point that was hammered home by ARISE IIP’s Logistics Value Chain Director, Jesper H. Boll during the launching ceremony for the commencement of work.
He noted during the ground breaking event that an important factor to the success of the zone is connectivity to the farmlands, to the ports and to neighbouring countries.
Against such a backdrop he further disclosed that ARISE will extend the current rail network beyond the Pepel Tonkolili line to Guinea and to the mines, economic centres in the country adding that in as much as the industry needs people they are bringing back a passenger train that will transport passenger and workforce between the provinces.
Jesper expressed the view that only by integrating the rail network with the Pepel Port and the Koya Special Industrial Zone that they will unlock the true potentials of the country.
Portraying the preparedness of the company in that direction he revealed that the train is ready and is on the way to Sierra Leone.
From what this medium has so far gathered it is clear that many have welcomed the signing of the Pepel Port and Pepel Tonkolili Railway Development, Expansion and Management lease between the Government and ARISE IIP earlier this year.
They accepted the fact that the agreement is part of bigger reforms in the mining sector where the Government intends to open the space for more players to participate.
Development experts have argued that for too long it has been observed that the revival of mining operations requires significant investment in infrastructure for the country to fully benefit from the growth of its mining output.
Satisfaction has also been expressed that the lease agreement gives a 10% free carriage to the Government of Sierra Leone and provides access to rail and port facilities to the other bulk mineral producers in the northern corridor.
One of the greatest advantages of the lease agreement which is welcoming to most is that it will expand economic activities by providing jobs for Sierra Leoneans and enable passengers’ locomotion from Tonkolili through Bombali to the Port Loko District.
It will also introduce passenger rail service that provides communities with improved mobility and trade access, increase mineral export with an additional 20 million metric tonnes, 10% dividend to Government, surface rent to landowners, annual royalties, PAYE and other taxes.
Some have expressed the view that one of the factors that mainly contributed to the slowdown of the country’s economy was the decision taken years back to close down the railway.
They furthered that with the revival of passenger train services, having the potential to more people and goods, such will serve as an economic game changer as there will be a surge in economic activities.
