SL Mining has announced the commencement of commissioning at the Marampa mine in Lunsar, following completion of Phase-I of an investment program designed to rehabilitate and reconfigure operations.

A wholly owned subsidiary of Gerald Group, SL Mining has completed construction ahead of schedule and is now ramping up production of ‘Marampa Blue’, a high-grade iron ore with over 65% Fe concentrate, one of the highest grades in the world, and a first by any mining company in Sierra Leone.

A delegation from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the World Bank visited the Marampa site earlier this month, to see how the mine has been brought back to life. Gayle Martin, Sierra Leone Country Manager, World Bank, and Frank Ajilore, IFC Country Representative in Sierra Leone, led the delegation to gain insights on private sector challenges in the mining sector. Mining accounts for 77% of exports from Sierra Leone. "Our position is that private sector development is the engine for economic growth,” said Martin.

Gerald Group’s commitment to spend approximately $300m during Phases I and II, is aimed at bringing the project into production with a sustained output of 2 million tonnes per annum in Phase I, growing to 6 million tonnes per annum in Phase II. From fewer than 70 employees in 2018, SL Mining currently employs over 650 workers to meet the growing demand of the operations and expects headcount to reach 1,000 in the next few months, and to over 1,800 once mining operations enter into the second phase. The project estimates resources at about one billion tonnes of iron ore grading 32% Fe, with potential to expand the resource, for production over the next 30 years.

Craig Dean, Chairman, SL Mining and Chairman and CEO, Gerald Group commented: “We are very excited to deliver the Marampa restart ahead of schedule and on budget. SL Mining has already demonstrated the investment has led to significant job creation in Sierra Leone and has generated other direct benefits to surrounding communities.

“We would like to thank the Government of Sierra Leone, the local communities, the World Bank and International Finance Corporation for their continued support of Marampa. Once SL Mining is optimized for Phase-II, our goal is to make Sierra Leone’s ‘Marampa Blue’, an internationally recognized premium iron ore brand.”

Source from: www.miningglobal.com/mining-sites/sl-mining-begins-commissioning-marampa-mine-sierra-leone