African Minerals Limited train engines arrive in Freetown!
African Minerals SL Ltd. (AML) Freetown, September 4, 2010 – African Minerals is pleased to announce that the first set of train engines, the locomotive with a capacity to pull over 20 loaded ballast wagons on the ruling grade, was received Friday by President Ernest Bai Koroma at the Queen Elizabeth II Quay in Freetown.
The Sierra Leone Government Railway operated in the country from 1897 to 1974.
But the Logistics Manager Musa Alie Bangura said he was hopeful that the railway would start operation in the next three months for the first time in thirty-six years.
“We plan to strengthen our infrastructure base first to allow for smooth transportation of the huge deposit of ore to the port; and from where it will be subsequently exported to the markets around the world,” he told a gallery of pressman at the Cline Town seaport.
In May 2009, parliament formally ratified the lease over railway and port infrastructure, granting African Minerals the opportunity to manage the port and railway. The facilities will be made available to other users, including other mining companies and general freight and passenger transport companies, at commercial rates.
The exclusive lease and subsequent engineering studies underline the company’s strong commitment to improving the country’s infrastructure whilst securing the rail, port and power capacity requirements for the iron ore projects.
It is intended that this infrastructure will in due course provide a facility servicing the West African sub-region, enabling both Sierra Leone and neighbouring countries to export their goods to international markets.
Meanwhile, the mineral exploration and development company with significant iron ore and base metal interests in Sierra Leone said, based on their engineering evaluation and service records, the locomotive would be suitable for the intended purpose and is in good serviceable condition.
The consignment, the largest ever held in recent years, was delivered just thirteen days after the company received its epic mining license, giving it the right to mine and export mineral deposits in its 227 square kilometer concession area with 45 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) magnetite iron ore production.
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