By Abdul Malik Bangura
President of Kingho Energy Group, Colin Ding has, on Sunday 23rd May 2021 at Bumbuna Town, Tonkolili District promised to optimise the Tonkolili Iron Ore grade from 52% to more than 65% so that the company’s product will be globally competitive.
He made that statement during a community engagement ceremony held in Bumbuna Town, Dasogoia Chiefdom- one of the mining chiefdoms in the Tonkolili District of Sierra Leone. Whilst dilating on the issue, the Kingho head said, “our visit this time is to reveal the Phase II of our project for the Tonkolili Iron Mine,” adding that this phase of the project is going to involve designing and building an optimization plant that will increase the grade and value of the Tonkolili Iron Ore from 52% to more than 65% Iron.
Colin Ding added that the designing and building of an optimization plant will be the first time in the history of the Tonkolili Mine and that the Iron Ore mined will leave the mine with such a globally competitive grade. He said “Kingho is not here just to mine what we meet but we are also going to add value to what we mine right here in Sierra Leone.”
In addition, the Kingho President assured that once that phase starts, the products the company will be exporting will have higher value and there will be more revenue coming to the Government of Sierra Leone and the 1% amount paid to the communities will also increase.
Against that backdrop, the Kingho President used the opportunity to thank the stakeholders for their patience during the challenges the company is going through. He said “your support has provided comfort for us and increase our confidence to invest more and do more in terms of business development in the communities and increase our community development projects.”
On his side, CEO of Kingho Investment Company, Gilbert Zhao whilst delivering his remarks assured that all of what Kingho has started doing in its operational communities are just the beginning. He said that Kingho’s ambition is to grow stronger with the communities. He added that, “the developments we will bring into your communities will benefit the youths, women and children as our community development support plans covers agriculture, health, education, water and sanitation.”
Meanwhile, earlier on in the programme, Director of Community Affairs of the Kingho Investment Company, Madam Judith Kosseh whilst stating the purpose of the meeting said the company has done much in its three (3) mining chiefdoms of Dasogoia, Simiria and Sambaia and that they are gathered to showcase the various things Kingho has succeeded in bringing to the people of Tonkolili District.
Paramount Chief of Dasogoia Chiefdom who chaired the meeting and spoke on behalf of the people of the mining communities emphasized on the importance of the meeting with the mining communities. He said the decision of the Kingho President to come from China and deliberate with them shows that the interest of the people is at the heartbeat of Kingho’s development programmes.
Biankay Bangura, one of the land owners from Simiria Chiefdom said they are very optimistic that the model of community engagement Kingho has used will bring more people on board including creating more job opportunities and empowering the people. He said he is hopeful such will benefit them as the land owners. He said he is hopeful that Kingho will show difference unlike previous companies.
Sierra Leone Police Local Unit Commander Tonkolili District, Alphonso A Fambulleh called on the people to always seek redress with the appropriate authorities. He called on residents to never do or take things by themselves. However, he called on the company to go strictly by the mining industry regulations.
Several other stakeholders from all the three mining communities and the Tonkolili District spoke at the auspicious programme, which was accompanied by the symbolic handing over of a rehabilitated school at Kegbema Community to the Deputy Director of Education Tonkolili District and also the launch of the Women in Agriculture Project in all three mining chiefdoms. The programme was climaxed with traditional performances by residents who warmly welcomed the Kingho staff.
Note:
Kingho Mining Company Limited is a subsidiary company of Kingho Investment Company Limited. Kingho Mining is undertaking mining at the New Tonkolili Iron Ore Mines in Sambaia, Dasogoia and Simiria chiefdoms of Tonkolili District, Northern Province of Sierra Leone. It was the Government of Sierra Leone which officially handed over the New Tonkolili Iron Ore Mining site to Kingho Mining Co Ltd on 23rd September 2020.
