COMMITTEE ON MINES AND MINERAL RESOURCES ENGAGES SIERRA RUTILE

By Parliamentary and Public Relations Department

The Parliamentary Committee on Mines and Mineral Resources chaired by the Rt. Hon Saa Emerson Lamina Thursday, 10^th July 2025 conducted a hearing involving Sierra Rutile Mining Company at the Speaker's Board Room at Parliament Building at Tower Hill in Freetown.

Prior to the hearing, the Chairman stressed that mining was an opportunity for economic growth, national development, and benefit for the people and a profit to the investors. He emphasized that the government heavily relies on mining and went on to assure the witnesses that Parliament would also promote a win-win situation for all.  The Committee discovered that a Sierra Leonean indigenous investment now owns Sierra Rutile, and local content policy was fully applied.

During the presentation, the COO revealed that the company has six mining areas but is currently operating in area one. According to him, area one has envisaged challenges since 2018, and pricing continued to deteriorate at the world market. He informed Members of the Committee that the cost of production outweighed the cost of operation. According to him, the company is going through a transition.  The COO told the Committee that Sembehun concession is a big hope, and they are striving hard to commence operation in that area by 2026. He assured the committee that Sierra Leoneans would continue to lead and maintain the skills. He disclosed to the Committee Members that owing to challenges, the company redundant some staff last year. According to the COO, the total capacity is around two thousand five hundred workers including contractors.

The following observations were made by the Committee: The Committee observed that a Sierra Leonean investment took over the company, It  was observed that Sembehun concession is a big hope, The Committee expressed worries over the redundancy of staff members from three thousand in the last few years to about two thousand five hundred, It was observed that most management positions are now manned by Sierra Leonean compatriots, It was observed that the cost of operation outweighed the cost of production, It was suggested and proposed that Parliament or Committee now look into the audited financial statement of mining companies for transparency, accountability, and guidance, The company was advised to promote locals in light of improving on the human capital development to maintain expertise, That the company corporate social responsibility development is tangible and visible across the host districts mining operations, That the company amidst going through serious crises or challenges but still providing CSR, It was observed or alleged by one of the host MPs that the company is facing serious contention with landowners in connection with crop compensation, That money paid by the company to host communities for agriculture is not properly utilized, and there are no semblance of sane activities, It was observed that the people are in possession of receipts for crop compensation by the previous company and, That the Company assured to address the issue surrounding the compensation through a win-win situation, and they would continue to comply.