By Amin Kef Sesay
The Parliamentary Committee on Mines and Mineral Resources, chaired by the Leader of C4C, Hon. Saa Emerson Lamina, has on the 8th December 2021 annulled or invalidated the cancellation of the concession and mining licenses of Sierramin Bauxite SL Ltd on the basis of allowing the company to continue its operations in the country. This latest move on the part of the Parliamentary Committee came in the wake of the termination of Sierramin Bauxite SL Limited mining licenses, issued by the Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources.
Recently, to be precise on the 8th December 2021, officials of the Ministry of Mines and the National Minerals Agency (NMA) engaged stakeholders, especially landowners, in Marampa Chiefdom, Lunsar, in the Port Loko District, during which they informed them that because of failure to honour its obligations, amidst several warnings, the Government has decided to cancel the concession and mining licenses of Sierramin Bauxite Sierra Leone Limited.
However, the 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 are terminated.
Hon. Amadu Kanu spoke on the importance and benefits of mining to the State and encouraged the 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: Comprehensive list mining companies that are doing exploration in the country, Environmental, Social, and Health Impacts Assessment (ESHIA) of active mining companies, Proposed mining strategy for 2022 and Comparative Assessment of the 2009 Mines and Minerals Act and the 2021 proposed Bill for the purposes of its review.
The Committee also made the following recommendations: That the Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources should put on hold any act of termination regarding Sierramin Bauxite SL Limited, the Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources must exhaust all mechanisms for redress and that the Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources should engage the miner (Sierramin Bauxite) based on the company’s commitments and responsibilities to the State
Hon. Saa Emerson Lamina, the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Mines and Mineral Resources, said the decision to revoke the termination of the said mining licenses was informed by what transpired between SL Mining and the State, following experts’ 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.
