African Minerals concludes public disclosure meetings on Stage 1 of the environmental, social and health impact assessment (ESHIA) report
Monday 18TH October 2010 – African Minerals Limited today announced the conclusion of its Public Disclosure meetings on Stage 1 of the Environmental, Social and Health Impact Assessment (ESHIA) report on the Tonkolili Iron Ore Project.
In conformity with the Sierra Leone Environmental Protection Agency (SLEPA) Act 2008, African Minerals Sierra Leone Limited undertook an ESHIA study with a view to minimizing potentially negative Environmental, Social and Health Impacts. After the completion of the exercise, the company has since presented the report to SLEPA for review.
One of AML’s policies is to conform to national and internationally recognized environmental laws and regulations and to promote the respect of the environment in all of its business activities and in compliance with the Ecuador Principles.
As part of the public consultation and disclosure process, African Minerals Sierra Leone Ltd disclosed and discussed results of the study to stakeholders at a series of consultative meetings held in Bumbuna, Makeni, Lunsar, Port Loko Town, Pepel, Lungi and Freetown.
“The public disclosure meeting is very important as the people need to be informed about risks and activities in the mining site. I am of the strong conviction that African Minerals will protect the environment by making sure that problems like water pollution and other environmental hazards are solved,” says Paramount Chief Alimamy Bockarie Y. Koroma of Bumbuna.
A total of 2,185 (two thousand, one hundred and eighty-five) people attended the Public Disclosure meetings held in the three Districts of operation. To date, the company recorded over 1,900 (one thousand, nine hundred) people that have visited the African Minerals mines and operation areas in sixty-seven communities.
“These Public Disclosure-meetings are unique undertakings by a mining company in the history of Sierra Leone. I am happy that SLEPA and African Minerals are determined to do a very good job in accordance with the laws of the land,” says Dr. Kolleh Bangura, SLEPA’s Director.
The valuable input of various interested and affected parties in this process is being documented, while at the same time written comments, questions and suggestions would be submitted to the office of African Minerals Ltd and SLEPA.
“We want to thank all those who in diverse ways contributed towards the success of our Public Disclosure meetings. We want to assure every Sierra Leonean that African Minerals is in the country to stay and help in the development process. Let us support the company for the development the country”, says Public Relations Manager, Anthony Junior Navo.
African Minerals will continue to implement socio-development programs with specific focus on: Clean Drinking Water, New Roads and Bridges, New Schools, Educational Support; as over eight hundred scholarships have been provided in eleven chiefdoms – while plans are afoot to undertake Pro-Active Medical Programs.
There will be more substantial community development projects in the areas of health, education and infrastructure.
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